Montana · Precision Metal Working

Best colleges for Precision Metal Working in Montana

Ranked by graduate earnings

Great Falls College Montana State University, Montana State University and Helena College University of Montana award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Montana: 76, 50 and 37 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 Montana colleges offer Precision Metal Working and award 268 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Precision Metal Working program focuses on the skills and techniques needed for various metalworking occupations. This program is ideal for students interested in hands-on work involving machinery, fabrication, and assembly of metal…

Institutions
10
offering CIP 48.05
States offered
50
with a program page
Degrees / yr
268
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$41,875
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
—
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
38%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sheet Metal Workers
$64,660
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Flathead Valley Community College
Kalispell Public · Associate degree Small program
$43,7111729%——
2Montana State University Billings
Billings Public · Associate degree Small program
$41,8751530%——

Colleges awarding the most Precision Metal Working degrees in Montana

Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Great Falls College Montana State University
Great Falls Public
76Not reported
2Montana State University
Bozeman Public
50Not reported
3Helena College University of Montana
Helena Public
37Not reported
4Montana State University - Northern
Havre Public
28Not reported
5The University of Montana
Missoula Public
16Not reported
6Montana State University Billings
Billings Public
15$41,875
7Highlands College of Montana Tech
Butte Public
14Not reported
8Dawson Community College
Glendive Public
13Not reported
Show the other 2 Montana colleges offering Precision Metal Working
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Flathead Valley Community CollegeKalispellPublic17
Fort Peck Community CollegePoplarPublic2

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Sheet Metal Workers (SOC 47-2211).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.4%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~10,600
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$60,850
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMonitoringMathematicsActive ListeningSpeaking

What Sheet Metal Workers earn in Montana

Jobs in Montana
410
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$64,660
median $61,420
Best-paying metro
$67,850
Bozeman, MT

Related careers

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
$58,680 avg · 1,530 jobs
Machinists
$61,530 avg · 630 jobs
Sheet Metal Workers
$64,660 avg · 410 jobs
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
$53,620 avg · 240 jobs
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$42,390 avg · 160 jobs
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$49,330 avg · 130 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Precision Metal Working programs in Montana.

Which Montana colleges award the most Precision Metal Working degrees?+

Great Falls College Montana State University (76 graduates a year), Montana State University (50 graduates a year) and Helena College University of Montana (37 graduates a year) award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Montana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 Montana colleges offer Precision Metal Working.

How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in Montana?+

The average annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers in Montana is $64,660 (median $61,420), across about 410 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Precision Metal Working program?+

The Precision Metal Working program focuses on the skills and techniques needed for various metalworking occupations. This program is ideal for students interested in hands-on work involving machinery, fabrication, and assembly of metal…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, monitoring, mathematics, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Sheet Metal Workers?+

The national job outlook is about +2.4% growth with around 10,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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