WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+7% vs national median171 grads tracked

Precision Metal Working at Rock Valley College

Ranked 44th of 150 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Precision Metal Working by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$41,695
middle 50%: $30,865 – $56,357
Median · 5 years out
$57,282
middle 50%: $41,695 – $66,779
Median · 10 years out
$76,554
middle 50%: $61,332 – $88,474

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

Graduates of Rock Valley College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Precision Metal Working earn a median $41,695 one year after graduating, rising to $76,554 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% above the national median of $53,655 for this field, ranking 44th 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
7.2 yrs
≈ $8,296 total interest

Same major at other universities

Hennepin Technical College
$57,917 · 5 yrs out
Mt. Hood Community College
$57,910 · 5 yrs out
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
Greenville Technical College
$57,186 · 5 yrs out
Tooele Technical College
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$56,249 · 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

Other majors at Rock Valley College

Construction Trades (Associate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,260 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$73,728 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$72,966 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,961 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$70,489 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$69,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out

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