Precision Metal Working at Austin Community College District

Austin Community College's precision metal working program punches above its weight—graduates earn $43,110 four years out, placing this program in the 80th percentile among Texas metalworking programs. That's $13,000 more than the typical Texas metalworking graduate earns, even if it trails the state's top performers in Amarillo and specialized trade schools. Nationally, it also performs well, landing in the 70th percentile.

The debt picture is favorable: at $15,818, graduates carry more than the state median but still finish with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40, meaning they owe less than half their first-year salary. Earnings also show healthy momentum, growing 10% from year one to year four. For a certificate program that gets students into the workforce quickly, this combination of moderate debt and solid earning potential is exactly what you want to see.

If your child is interested in skilled trades and wants to stay in Texas, this program offers a clear path to middle-class earnings without the debt burden of a four-year degree. The Austin job market for precision manufacturing appears stronger than most of Texas, which explains why ACC graduates outperform most of their in-state peers. It's not the highest-earning metalworking program in Texas, but it delivers reliable results at a reasonable cost.