Precision Metal Working (Associate's Degree) at American River College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,504

Est. from national median (56 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$11,562

Est. from national median (20 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 makes this program look financially manageable on paper, but there's substantial uncertainty here. Both the earnings figure of $41,504 and the debt estimate of $11,562 come from national medians of similar programs, not from American River College's own graduates. With 59 schools offering precision metal working in California and none reporting actual outcomes data, it's difficult to know whether Sacramento's specific job market for machinists and CNC operators will support these national figures.

The estimated first-year earnings fall roughly in line with what you'd expect for skilled trade work requiring an associate's degree, and the relatively modest debt load means graduates wouldn't face crushing monthly payments. However, precision metal working can vary significantly by regional industry demand—a program feeding into aerospace manufacturing might produce very different outcomes than one serving general machine shops. Without knowing which Sacramento employers typically hire American River College graduates or what their actual starting wages are, you're essentially betting on the national average holding true locally.

The bottom line: the estimated numbers suggest a reasonable investment if your child is genuinely interested in machining work, but verify the local job market independently. Talk to the program about employer partnerships and job placement rates, and research machinist wages specifically in the Sacramento metro area before committing.

Where American River College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Precision Metal Working associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
American River CollegeSacramento	$1,288	$41,504*	—	$11,562*	—
Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park	$5,881	$59,829*	$73,136	—*	—
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids	$13,630	$56,811*	$77,380	$17,500*	0.31
Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis	$4,912	$56,292*	$64,893	$6,810*	0.12
Dunwoody College of TechnologyMinneapolis	$25,659	$55,188*	$61,261	$12,000*	0.22
Vincennes UniversityVincennes	$6,886	$54,908*	$52,065	$12,000*	0.22
National Median	—	$41,504*	—	$12,000*	0.29

* 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 American River College, approximately 20% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 56 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.