Certificate (under 1 year)-13% vs national median408 grads tracked
Precision Metal Working at Sauk Valley Community College
Ranked 115th of 150 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Precision Metal Working by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$36,789
middle 50%: $25,974 – $48,487
Median · 5 years out
$46,566
middle 50%: $31,668 – $59,780
Median · 10 years out
$56,877
middle 50%: $40,660 – $70,944
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
In the Precision Metal Working program at Sauk Valley Community College, year-one median salaries are $37k. Pay rises to $47k by year five and $57k 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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,216 total interest
Same major at other universities
Ranger College
$47,574 · 5 yrs out
Horry - Georgetown Technical College
$47,574 · 5 yrs out
Lake Land College
$47,270 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 4
$47,270 · 5 yrs out
Kilgore College
$46,967 · 5 yrs out
Danville Area Community College
$46,845 · 5 yrs out
Galveston College
$46,777 · 5 yrs out
Lincoln Land Community College
$46,435 · 5 yrs out
Eastfield College
$46,435 · 5 yrs out
State Fair Community College
$46,024 · 5 yrs out
Spoon River College
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Danville Community College
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Sauk Valley Community College
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$68,098 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$67,018 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$66,779 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$66,438 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$62,520 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$62,087 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate)
$58,527 · 5 yrs out
Transportation and Materials Moving (Certificate)
$58,065 · 5 yrs out
Ground Transportation (Certificate)
$58,065 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$57,175 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$57,175 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$56,877 · 5 yrs out