Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Amarillo College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$48,263

95th percentile

Est. Median Debt

$9,450

Est. from TX median (5 programs)

Analysis

Amarillo College's precision metal working program stands out sharply in Texas, with first-year earnings of $48,263 placing it above every other comparable program in the state—including well-regarded technical colleges that typically produce graduates earning in the low $40,000s. While debt figures are estimated based on similar Texas certificate programs at around $9,450, the earnings advantage is substantial and directly reported for Amarillo's graduates. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.20 suggests graduates could realistically pay off loans in under six months if they dedicated a significant portion of early paychecks to it.

The Texas job market for metal workers clearly varies by region and program quality. Most precision metal working certificates in the state lead to earnings around $30,000, making Amarillo's $48,000 outcome remarkable—it's $5,000 above even the state's second-best program. Whether this reflects Amarillo's connections to local manufacturing, superior training equipment, or regional wage premiums in the Texas Panhandle, the outcome speaks for itself. For families concerned about quick payback on a technical credential, this program delivers earnings that put it in the 95th percentile nationally while keeping debt manageable.

The practical takeaway: This certificate offers a clear path to middle-class wages with minimal debt exposure. Before enrolling, confirm the estimated debt figure with Amarillo's financial aid office and verify that local job placement matches these strong earnings—but the fundamentals look solid for a short-term technical program.

Where Amarillo College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all precision metal working certificate's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Amarillo College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Texas (71 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Amarillo CollegeAmarillo	$2,136	$48,263	—	$9,450*	—
School of Automotive Machinists & TechnologyHouston	—	$43,065	$50,472	$16,354*	0.38
San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena	$1,992	$42,512	$44,619	—*	—
Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands	$3,090	$40,863	$28,942	$4,562*	0.11
Austin Community College DistrictAustin	$2,550	$39,261	$43,110	$15,818*	0.40
Universal Technical Institute of Texas Inc.Houston	—	$39,141	—	$6,855*	0.18
National Median	—	$36,248	—	$9,000*	0.25

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with precision metal working graduates

Sheet Metal Workers

Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.

$60,850/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Machinists

Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

$57,700/yrJobs growth:

Tool and Die Makers

Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists' hand tools.

$57,700/yrJobs growth:

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

$51,000/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Amarillo College, approximately 44% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 18 graduates with reported earnings and 13 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.