Precision Metal Working (Associate's Degree) at Butler County Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$40,225

Est. from PA median (8 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$11,562

Est. from national median (20 programs)

Analysis

A debt load around $11,500 against first-year earnings near $40,000 creates a manageable financial picture for this precision metalworking program—similar programs nationally carry comparable debt burdens while producing slightly higher typical earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 means your child could reasonably pay off these loans within a few years while earning a livable wage in skilled manufacturing work.

The caveat here is that Butler County's specific outcomes aren't publicly available due to small graduating classes, so we're relying on what other Pennsylvania programs in this field typically produce. Looking at schools that do report data, there's significant range—top performers like Thaddeus Stevens and Penn College of Technology show graduates earning $50,000+ right out of school, while programs at the lower end match the state median around $40,000. Without knowing where Butler County falls in that spectrum, you're making an educated guess rather than working with hard evidence.

For a two-year skilled trades credential, this looks financially sound on paper, assuming Butler County's actual outcomes align with the state average. The modest debt relative to earning potential gives your child room to build a career without being crushed by loan payments. Before committing, though, talk to Butler County directly about their job placement rates and see if they'll connect you with recent graduates—that firsthand insight matters more than statewide estimates when the actual program data isn't available.

Where Butler County Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Precision Metal Working associates's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (22 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Butler County Community CollegeButler	$5,610	$40,225*	—	$11,562*	—
Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyLancaster	$9,050	$52,298*	$54,954	$12,000*	0.23
Pennsylvania College of TechnologyWilliamsport	$17,940	$50,402*	$55,060	$14,750*	0.29
New Castle School of TradesNew Castle	—	$43,671*	$43,303	$9,931*	0.23
Triangle Tech Inc-BethlehemBethlehem	$18,593	$40,225*	$45,784	$18,262*	0.45
Triangle Tech Inc-GreensburgGreensburg	$18,513	$40,225*	$45,784	$18,262*	0.45
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 Butler County Community College, approximately 35% 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 median of 8 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.