Certificate (under 1 year)-18% vs national median237 grads tracked
Precision Metal Working at Lewis and Clark Community College
Ranked 129th of 150 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Precision Metal Working by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$30,712
middle 50%: $21,480 – $46,587
Median · 5 years out
$43,921
middle 50%: $32,953 – $61,456
Median · 10 years out
$60,720
middle 50%: $45,300 – $85,788
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
Precision Metal Working certificate holders start with a median salary of $31k. Ten-year earnings increase to $61k.
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
9.3 yrs
≈ $11,462 total interest
Same major at other universities
Northeast Iowa Community College
$45,480 · 5 yrs out
Trinity Valley Community College
$45,385 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Western Community College
$45,075 · 5 yrs out
Pikes Peak State College
$44,978 · 5 yrs out
Paris Junior College
$44,315 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Valley Community College
$44,206 · 5 yrs out
John Wood Community College
$43,784 · 5 yrs out
Laredo College
$43,722 · 5 yrs out
Black Hawk College
$43,317 · 5 yrs out
Texarkana College
$43,047 · 5 yrs out
Southwest Virginia Community College
$42,776 · 5 yrs out
Waubonsee Community College
$42,505 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Lewis and Clark Community College
Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$89,578 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$86,835 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$77,430 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$77,430 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,093 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$68,619 · 5 yrs out
Transportation and Materials Moving (Certificate)
$65,194 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$64,555 · 5 yrs out
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$64,085 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$63,610 · 5 yrs out