Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Central Carolina Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,004

Est. from NC median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,913

Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

Central Carolina's precision metal working program sits at the middle of the pack for North Carolina, with similar programs across the state producing first-year earnings around $37,000. That's notably above the national median of $36,248, which suggests North Carolina's manufacturing sector offers decent opportunities for certificate holders in this field. The estimated $7,900 in debt is meaningfully lower than both the state and national medians, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.21—considerably better than many technical programs.

What matters most here is whether this certificate translates into stable manufacturing work. The earnings figures from comparable North Carolina programs cluster tightly between $34,000 and $40,000, indicating fairly consistent outcomes regardless of which community college you attend. That's actually reassuring—it suggests local labor market demand drives pay more than the specific school's reputation. With moderate debt and earnings that align with state benchmarks, graduates should be able to manage their loans on a manufacturing wage.

The challenge is that we're working with estimated figures because this program's graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to report. If you're considering Central Carolina specifically, visit the campus and ask directly about job placement rates with local manufacturers and whether they maintain relationships with employers in the Triangle or Triad regions. The numbers suggest reasonable value, but you'll want confirmation that this particular program delivers the industry connections that make these certificates worthwhile.

Where Central Carolina Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (59 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford	$2,554	$37,004*	—	$7,913*	—
Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville	$1,978	$39,990*	—	$11,000*	0.28
NASCAR Technical InstituteMooresville	—	$37,568*	—	$10,593*	0.28
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville	$2,882	$37,078*	—	—*	—
Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown	$2,319	$36,930*	$36,750	—*	—
Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield	$2,657	$34,171*	—	—*	—
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 Central Carolina Community College, approximately 25% 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 6 similar programs in NC. Actual outcomes may vary.