Certificate (1-2 years)+4% vs national median586 grads tracked
Precision Production at Des Moines Area Community College
Ranked 46th of 123 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Precision Production by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$42,570
middle 50%: $31,470 – $54,586
Median · 5 years out
$57,619
middle 50%: $43,868 – $69,909
Median · 10 years out
$67,633
middle 50%: $53,343 – $85,664
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Precision Production (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Precision Production graduates from Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $43k in their first year. Salaries increase to $58k by year five and reach $68k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.2 yrs
≈ $8,212 total interest
Same major at other universities
Tri-County Technical College
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Vincennes University
$59,037 · 5 yrs out
Portland Community College
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
Bridgerland Technical College
$58,065 · 5 yrs out
Ridgewater College
$57,957 · 5 yrs out
Brightpoint Community College
$57,619 · 5 yrs out
Alexandria Technical and Community College
$57,311 · 5 yrs out
Hawkeye Community College
$57,301 · 5 yrs out
Central Lakes College
$57,185 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges - Wabash Valley College
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Coastal Bend College
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Dakota County Technical College
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Des Moines Area Community College
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$85,523 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$81,357 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$81,295 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$79,157 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate)
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$73,958 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$72,928 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$71,555 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$68,222 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$68,098 · 5 yrs out