Certificate (under 1 year)+8% vs national median722 grads tracked
Precision Metal Working at Houston Community College
Ranked 41st of 150 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Precision Metal Working by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$40,414
middle 50%: $28,872 – $55,040
Median · 5 years out
$57,736
middle 50%: $38,967 – $76,958
Median · 10 years out
$64,546
middle 50%: $44,398 – $91,987
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 graduates earn a median of $40k in their first year. Ten-year median salaries reach approximately $65k.
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
≈ $8,457 total interest
Same major at other universities
Tyler Junior College
$58,227 · 5 yrs out
Columbus State Community College
$57,991 · 5 yrs out
South Plains College
$57,917 · 5 yrs out
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
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
Tooele Technical College
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$56,249 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Houston Community College
Fire Protection (Associate)
$124,854 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$99,334 · 5 yrs out
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$97,476 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$94,228 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$93,807 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$87,244 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Science (Associate)
$87,244 · 5 yrs out
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$85,242 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$84,025 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$82,991 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$82,328 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$80,200 · 5 yrs out