Certificate (under 1 year)-5% vs national median718 grads tracked
Precision Metal Working at Piedmont Technical College
Ranked 82nd of 150 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Precision Metal Working by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$44,701
middle 50%: $33,467 – $54,864
Median · 5 years out
$51,054
middle 50%: $37,783 – $64,485
Median · 10 years out
$58,497
middle 50%: $45,903 – $73,958
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 at Piedmont Technical College earn $45k in their first year. Median salaries reach $51k after five years and $58k after ten years.
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
7.8 yrs
≈ $8,604 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
Florence - Darlington Technical College
$51,405 · 5 yrs out
Highland Community College
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Rochester Community and Technical College
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
York Technical College
$51,028 · 5 yrs out
Hill College
$50,740 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern Technical College
$50,601 · 5 yrs out
Western Texas College
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
William Rainey Harper College
$50,197 · 5 yrs out
Central Texas College District
$50,129 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Piedmont Technical College
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$78,529 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$72,356 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$72,042 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,734 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$66,723 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$66,172 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$63,270 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$62,616 · 5 yrs out
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$60,021 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$59,222 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$59,222 · 5 yrs out