Best institutions to study Precision Metal Working
Compare 969 U.S. colleges offering Precision Metal Working by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.
Precision Metal Working programs report a median of $37,030 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 48.05 and the Sheet Metal Workers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Precision Metal Working programs
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 components across different industries. Students will gain practical experience and knowledge applicable to a range of specializations within the field of precision production. Participants in this program can expect to engage in diverse tasks, including welding, machining, and sheet metal fabrication. This hands-on training prepares graduates for a dynamic career path in the metalworking sector, where they can apply their skills in real-world settings and contribute to various projects and industries.
In the Precision Metal Working program, students will learn essential skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and mathematics. Coursework covers mechanical knowledge, building and construction principles, and design, equipping students with the necessary tools to succeed in metalworking professions.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho State University Pocatello, ID Public · Certificate degree | $64,581 | 54 | 39% | — | $9,000 |
| 2 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KY Public · Certificate degree | $58,996 | 448 | 58% | — | $9,413 |
| 3 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI Public · Associate degree | $56,811 | 73 | 47% | — | $17,500 |
| 4 | Vincennes University Vincennes, IN Public · Associate degree | $54,908 | 75 | 39% | — | $12,000 |
| 5 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI Public · Certificate degree | $53,507 | 278 | 65% | — | $7,664 |
| 6 | Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown, KY Public · Certificate degree | $53,172 | 425 | 59% | — | $7,166 |
| 7 | White Mountains Community College Berlin, NH Public · Certificate degree | $53,066 | 32 | 62% | — | $9,625 |
| 8 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN Public · Certificate degree | $52,456 | 96 | 42% | — | $9,329 |
| 9 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA Public · Associate degree | $52,298 | 91 | 71% | — | $12,000 |
| 10 | North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, ND Public · Associate degree | $51,647 | 46 | 55% | — | $11,246 |
| 11 | Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria, MN Public · Certificate degree | $51,141 | 71 | 60% | — | $9,500 |
| 12 | Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN Public · Certificate degree | $50,842 | 60 | 40% | — | $9,928 |
| 13 | Dakota County Technical College Rosemount, MN Public · Certificate degree | $50,464 | 45 | 58% | — | $5,500 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA Public · Associate degree | $50,402 | 89 | 53% | — | $14,750 |
| 15 | York Technical College Rock Hill, SC Public · Certificate degree | $50,309 | 86 | 30% | — | $11,250 |
| 16 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN Public · Certificate degree | $49,636 | 30 | 45% | — | $9,500 |
| 17 | Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN Public · Certificate degree | $49,632 | 226 | 66% | — | $8,692 |
| 18 | Minnesota State College Southeast Winona, MN Public · Certificate degree | $49,342 | 36 | 47% | — | $12,500 |
| 19 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE Public · Associate degree | $49,114 | 279 | 38% | — | $11,650 |
| 20 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI Public · Certificate degree | $48,638 | 160 | 50% | — | $8,109 |
| 21 | Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WI Public · Certificate degree | $48,619 | 61 | 50% | — | — |
| 22 | Amarillo College Amarillo, TX Public · Certificate degree | $48,263 | 69 | 32% | — | — |
| 23 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA Public · Associate degree | $48,114 | 84 | 43% | — | $13,500 |
| 24 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI Public · Certificate degree | $47,718 | 120 | 45% | — | $5,250 |
| 25 | Aims Community College Greeley, CO Public · Certificate degree | $47,680 | 292 | 40% | — | — |
| 26 | Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC Public · Certificate degree | $47,556 | 76 | 18% | — | $10,500 |
| 27 | Welder Training and Testing Institute Allentown, PA Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $47,528 | 50 | 85% | $25,303 | $9,500 |
| 28 | State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MO Public · Associate degree | $47,325 | 65 | 84% | — | $11,474 |
| 29 | Arkansas Northeastern College Blytheville, AR Public · Certificate degree | $47,110 | 58 | 49% | — | — |
| 30 | Clark College Vancouver, WA Public · Associate degree | $46,609 | 119 | 39% | — | — |
| 31 | Lively Technical College Tallahassee, FL Public · Certificate degree | $46,499 | 56 | 51% | — | — |
| 32 | Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Willow Street, PA Public · Certificate degree | $46,331 | 26 | 91% | — | $9,500 |
| 33 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KY Public · Certificate degree | $46,133 | 581 | 43% | — | $10,684 |
| 34 | Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown, IA Public · Certificate degree | $45,972 | 95 | 42% | — | — |
| 35 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA Public · Certificate degree | $45,864 | 97 | 31% | — | — |
| 36 | Lynnes Welding Training Fargo, ND Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $45,833 | 104 | 98% | $22,895 | $3,700 |
| 37 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA Public · Certificate degree | $45,509 | 85 | 43% | — | $7,874 |
| 38 | North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville, GA Public · Certificate degree | $45,472 | 70 | 39% | — | — |
| 39 | Bevill State Community College Jasper, AL Public · Certificate degree | $45,423 | 140 | 38% | — | — |
| 40 | Hobart Institute of Welding Technology Troy, OH Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $45,370 | 290 | 90% | $20,935 | $5,500 |
| 41 | Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro, KY Public · Certificate degree | $45,366 | 408 | 54% | — | $7,475 |
| 42 | Davis Technical College Kaysville, UT Public · Certificate degree | $45,350 | 162 | 57% | — | — |
| 43 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $45,004 | 88 | 53% | $17,520 | $9,500 |
| 44 | Emily Griffith Technical College Denver, CO Public · Certificate degree | $44,943 | 29 | 97% | — | $8,125 |
| 45 | Blackhawk Technical College Janesville, WI Public · Certificate degree | $44,698 | 28 | 34% | — | — |
| 46 | Beal University Bangor, ME Private for-profit · Associate degree | $44,690 | 13 | 36% | $34,052 | $13,541 |
| 47 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN Public · Associate degree | $44,635 | 47 | 20% | — | — |
| 48 | Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City, SD Public · Certificate degree | $44,614 | 25 | 54% | — | $9,125 |
| 49 | Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $44,559 | 40 | 66% | $25,132 | $6,333 |
| 50 | Ridgewater College Willmar, MN Public · Certificate degree | $44,421 | 40 | 50% | — | $9,750 |
Offered across 50 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-2211, Sheet Metal Workers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Precision Metal Working program can pursue careers in various fields, including welding, machining, and metal fabrication. The job outlook for this sector is about as fast as average, with an estimated 10,600 annual openings and a median wage of $60,850. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Precision Metal Working
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 48.05.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 48.05 (Precision Metal Working) maps to 24 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 47-2211 | Sheet Metal Workersprimary |
| 51-2041 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters |
| 51-4021 | Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4022 | Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4023 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4031 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4032 | Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4033 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4034 | Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4035 | Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4041 | Machinists |
| 51-4061 | Model Makers, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4062 | Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4071 | Foundry Mold and Coremakers |
| 51-4081 | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4111 | Tool and Die Makers |
| 51-4121 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers |
| 51-4122 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| 51-4191 | Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4192 | Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4194 | Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners |
| 51-4199 | Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other |
| 51-9161 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators |
| 51-9162 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Precision Metal Working programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Maintain equipment, making repairs or modifications when necessary.
- Fabricate ducts for high efficiency heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to maximize efficiency of systems.
- Fasten seams or joints together with welds, bolts, cement, rivets, solder, caulks, metal drive clips, or bonds to assemble components into products or to repair sheet metal items.
- Transport prefabricated parts to construction sites for assembly and installation.
- Install assemblies, such as flashing, pipes, tubes, heating and air conditioning ducts, furnace casings, rain gutters, or downspouts in supportive frameworks.
- Hire, train, or supervise new employees or apprentices.
Concentrations within Precision Metal Working
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Machine Tool Technology/MachinistCIP 48.0501
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to plan, manufacture, assemble, test, and repair parts, mechanisms, machines, and structures in which materials are cast, fo
- Machine Shop Technology/AssistantCIP 48.0503
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to fabricate and modify metal parts in support of other manufacturing, repair or design activities, or as an independent bus
- Sheet Metal Technology/SheetworkingCIP 48.0506
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to form, shape, bend and fold extruded metals, including the creation of new products, using hand tools and machines such as
- Tool and Die Technology/TechnicianCIP 48.0507
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to operate machine tools used in the forming of metal components, as well as the fabrication of special tools, dies, jigs an
- Welding Technology/WelderCIP 48.0508
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to join or cut metal surfaces
- Ironworking/IronworkerCIP 48.0509
A program that prepares individuals to make and install structural, ornamental, and reinforcing metal structures and supports
- Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC MachinistCIP 48.0510
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools, such as lathes, mills, precision measuring tools, and relate
- Metal FabricatorCIP 48.0511
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to further process ferrous and/or non-ferrous metal plates or shapes, and to manufacture and/or install products as interpre
- Precision Metal Working, OtherCIP 48.0599
Any instructional program in precision metal work not listed above.
Common questions
What specializations are available in this program?+
Specializations include Machine Tool Technology, Welding Technology, CNC Machinist Technology, and more.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and active learning, among others.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 10,600 annual openings.
What level of education is required for entry-level positions?+
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required.
How much do Precision Metal Working graduates earn?+
Precision Metal Working graduates report median earnings of $37,030 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Sheet Metal Workers occupation pays about $67,850 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Precision Metal Working?+
Precision Metal Working maps to CIP 48.05 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
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