Certificate (under 1 year)+5% vs national median370 grads tracked
Precision Metal Working at Elgin Community College
Ranked 47th of 150 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Precision Metal Working by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$44,025
middle 50%: $30,579 – $56,799
Median · 5 years out
$56,249
middle 50%: $41,907 – $72,585
Median · 10 years out
$65,458
middle 50%: $49,171 – $90,406
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Precision Metal Working (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
This Precision Metal Working certificate program offers a first-year median salary of $44k. Earnings climb to $65k by the tenth year.
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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,173 total interest
Same major at other universities
Community College of Denver
$57,791 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$57,736 · 5 yrs out
Clarendon College
$57,619 · 5 yrs out
Salt Lake Community College
$57,301 · 5 yrs out
Rock Valley College
$57,282 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$57,186 · 5 yrs out
Tarrant County College District
$56,212 · 5 yrs out
Rend Lake College
$56,140 · 5 yrs out
Wharton County Junior College
$56,086 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$56,029 · 5 yrs out
Aims Community College
$55,836 · 5 yrs out
Spartanburg Community College
$55,721 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Elgin Community College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$79,834 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$76,251 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$75,786 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$75,752 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$75,598 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$69,841 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,887 · 5 yrs out
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,887 · 5 yrs out