Wisconsin · Precision Metal Working

Best colleges for Precision Metal Working in Wisconsin

Ranked by graduate earnings

Fox Valley Technical College, Chippewa Valley Technical College and Lakeshore Technical College are the top Precision Metal Working programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. Fox Valley Technical College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,507, College Scorecard. Northwood Technical College, Gateway Technical College and Fox Valley Technical College award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Wisconsin: 525, 282 and 278 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 17 Wisconsin colleges offer Precision Metal Working and award 2,335 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
17
offering CIP 48.05
States offered
50
with a program page
Degrees / yr
2,335
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$43,380
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
14
College Scorecard
Median net price
$10,751
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
46%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sheet Metal Workers
$76,130
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 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
1Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton Public · Certificate
$53,50727865%—$7,664
2Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire Public · Certificate
$48,63816050%—$8,109
3Lakeshore Technical College
Cleveland Public · Certificate
$48,6196150%——
4Northcentral Technical College
Wausau Public · Certificate
$47,71812045%—$5,250
5Blackhawk Technical College
Janesville Public · Certificate
$44,6982834%——
6Waukesha County Technical College
Pewaukee Public · Certificate
$43,38018944%—$9,500
7Northwood Technical College
Rice Lake Public · Certificate
$42,28252556%—$5,500
8Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Green Bay Public · Certificate
$41,42111851%—$5,500
9Moraine Park Technical College
Fond du Lac Public · Certificate
$41,07319858%—$7,000
10Western Technical College
La Crosse Public · Certificate
$40,6243834%—$5,500

Colleges awarding the most Precision Metal Working degrees in Wisconsin

Top 10 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)
1Northwood Technical College
Rice Lake Public
525$42,282
2Gateway Technical College
Kenosha Public
282$38,659
3Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton Public
278$53,507
4Moraine Park Technical College
Fond du Lac Public
198$41,073
5Waukesha County Technical College
Pewaukee Public
189$43,380
6Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire Public
160$48,638
7Northcentral Technical College
Wausau Public
120$47,718
8Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Green Bay Public
118$41,421
9Lakeshore Technical College
Cleveland Public
61$48,619
10Mid-State Technical College
Wisconsin Rapids Public
49$38,653
Show the other 7 Wisconsin colleges offering Precision Metal Working
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Madison Area Technical CollegeMadisonPublic117
Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukeePublic108
Western Technical CollegeLa CrossePublic38
Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeFennimorePublic33
Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesvillePublic28
Nicolet Area Technical CollegeRhinelanderPublic27
College of Menominee NationKeshenaPrivate not-for-profit4

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 Wisconsin

Jobs in Wisconsin
3,180
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$76,130
median $77,760
Best-paying metro
$79,350
Appleton, WI

Related careers

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
$57,920 avg · 15,320 jobs
Machinists
$57,860 avg · 12,700 jobs
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
$55,390 avg · 8,330 jobs
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$50,500 avg · 7,960 jobs
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$52,330 avg · 3,570 jobs
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$48,520 avg · 3,570 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Precision Metal Working programs in Wisconsin.

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

Northwood Technical College (525 graduates a year), Gateway Technical College (282 graduates a year) and Fox Valley Technical College (278 graduates a year) award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 17 Wisconsin colleges offer Precision Metal Working.

What is the best college for Precision Metal Working in Wisconsin?+

By graduate earnings, Fox Valley Technical College leads among Precision Metal Working programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,507, College Scorecard. Chippewa Valley Technical College and Lakeshore Technical College follow. By degrees awarded, Northwood Technical College is the largest, with 525 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Precision Metal Working program in Wisconsin has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Fox Valley Technical College tops the list at $53,507. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in Wisconsin?+

The average annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers in Wisconsin is $76,130 (median $77,760), across about 3,180 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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