WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-2% vs national median498 grads tracked

Precision Production at Des Moines Area Community College

Ranked 73rd of 150 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Precision Production by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$36,841
middle 50%: $25,846 – $50,203
Median · 5 years out
$53,035
middle 50%: $39,529 – $66,158
Median · 10 years out
$65,698
middle 50%: $39,655 – $83,018

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Precision Production (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Des Moines Area Community College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Precision Production earn a median $36,841 one year after graduating, rising to $65,698 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% below the national median of $54,292 for this field, ranking 73rd of 150 reporting programs.

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
7.9 yrs
≈ $9,323 total interest

Same major at other universities

Front Range Community College
$53,655 · 5 yrs out
Central Carolina Technical College
$53,578 · 5 yrs out
Uintah Basin Technical College
$53,397 · 5 yrs out
Vernon College
$53,306 · 5 yrs out
Housatonic Community College
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
Mountain View College
$53,040 · 5 yrs out
Amarillo College
$52,920 · 5 yrs out
Clackamas Community College
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
$51,837 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges - Lincoln Trail College
$51,789 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$51,694 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern Technical College
$51,537 · 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

Related fields of study

Boilermaking/Boilermaker
Compare universities
Precision Metal Working
Compare universities
Precision Production, Other
Compare universities
Woodworking
Compare universities