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Precision Metal Working

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Precision Metal Working

Precision Metal Working graduates pursue 2 occupations, with top roles paying $64,050/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.

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About Precision Metal Working

This page covers Precision Metal Working as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Precision Production and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Precision Metal Working is a focused area of study within Precision Production. You will not have trouble finding it: 1,010 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 59,352 students complete it each year, most walking away with a certificate. Training is practical and skills-based, with a fast path from classroom to job site.

Colleges Offering: 1,010
Graduates / Year: 59,352
Avg Net Price / yr: $13,181

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 59,352 students who complete Precision Metal Working programs each year, the majority (67%) earn a certificate degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

67%

Certificate 67%

Doctorate 17%

Associate's 16%

What Can You Do With a Precision Metal Working Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Precision Metal Working graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Tool and Die Makers pay the most at $64,050/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what Tool and Die Makers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↘ -9.2% Zone 3: Medium preparation

Tool and Die Makers

$64,050

$51K $79K 25th–75th pct.

Postsecondary nondegree award 4,300 openings/yr 57K employed nationally

Quality Control Analysis Operation and Control Operations Monitoring Judgment and Decision Making Time Management

Day-to-day responsibilities

Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists' hand tools.

Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, or dial indicators.
Set up and operate conventional or computer numerically controlled machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders to cut, bore, grind, or otherwise shape parts to prescribed dimensions and finishes.
Visualize and compute dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications.

↗ +1.0% Zone 3: Medium preparation

Machinists

$58,750

$48K $68K 25th–75th pct.

High school diploma or equivalent 26,100 openings/yr 287K employed nationally

Operation and Control Critical Thinking Operations Monitoring Monitoring Coordination

Day-to-day responsibilities

Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.
Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.

Top Colleges for Precision Metal Working

Not sure where to study Precision Metal Working? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Ivy Tech Community College, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN · Public	445	Open	$7,258	$37,186
2	Texas State Technical College Waco, TX · Public	403	Open	$13,508	$38,916
3	Central Louisiana Technical Community College Alexandria, LA · Public	361	Open	$5,702	$29,558
4	Northwood Technical College Rice Lake, WI · Public	331	Open	$8,989	$43,406
5	Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KY · Public	328	Open	$6,113	$36,343
6	Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie Grand Prairie, TX · For-Profit	317	Open	$33,250	$46,396
7	Northshore Technical Community College Lacombe, LA · Public	311	Open	$10,773	$29,734
8	Mech-Tech College Caguas, PR · For-Profit	304	Open	$10,697	$24,967
9	Gateway Community and Technical College Florence, KY · Public	255	Open	$5,725	$36,147
10	Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA · Public	245	Open	$11,171	$41,018
11	Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro, KY · Public	224	Open	$5,800	$35,798
12	Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI · Public	215	Open	$11,407	$45,684
13	Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville, KY · Public	211	Open	$6,376	$38,171
14	Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth Irving, TX · For-Profit	211	Open	$26,265	$51,222
15	Maysville Community and Technical College Maysville, KY · Public	196	Open	$4,605	$32,194
16	Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee Muskogee, OK · Public	184	Open	$4,895	$33,208
17	West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah, KY · Public	181	Open	$5,353	$34,891
18	Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc Avondale, AZ · For-Profit	174	Open	$30,451	$52,873
19	Universal Technical Institute of California Inc Rancho Cucamonga, CA · For-Profit	166	Open	$26,360	$52,873
20	Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville Mooresville, NC · For-Profit	165	Open	$28,915	$52,873

View all colleges

Ranked by Precision Metal Working graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Precision Metal Working program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Precision Metal Working degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Precision Metal Working Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Precision Metal Working shows 2 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS

Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 30,400 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availability Offered at 1,010 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.

CONS

Licensure often required Many positions in this field require trade licenses, certifications, or apprenticeship completion. These add time and cost beyond the academic credential.
Declining roles in some areas 1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.

Precision Metal Working Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

What jobs can you get with a Precision Metal Working degree?

Tool and Die Makers are one path, and it pays a median of $64,050 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Precision Metal Working program take?

One to two years of full-time study for most Precision Metal Working certificates, and some community colleges get you through in a single semester. That makes it one of the fastest ways into the field.

How many colleges offer Precision Metal Working?

1,010 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

What is the difference between Precision Metal Working and Precision Production?

Precision Metal Working is the narrower of the two: Precision Production covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Precision Metal Working-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Precision Metal Working graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Precision Metal Working graduates consistently look for technical proficiency, safety compliance, and hands-on problem-solving. Certifications, apprenticeships, and demonstrated practical experience typically carry as much weight as academic credentials in this field. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

What is the job outlook for Precision Metal Working graduates?

Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average -4.1% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Machinists are among the strongest-growth roles at +1.0%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.