Precision Metal Working (Associate's Degree) at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$48,709

80th percentile

60th percentile in Kentucky

Est. Median Debt

$11,562

Est. from national median (20 programs)

Analysis

Earning $48,709 in the first year makes Elizabethtown's precision metal working program one of the stronger performers in this field—above both the state median of $44,735 and the national median of $41,504. That income level represents solid blue-collar earning power straight out of a two-year program, particularly in Kentucky's cost-of-living context.

The estimated debt of $11,562 based on similar programs at community colleges looks manageable against those earnings, working out to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24. If actual debt levels align with this estimate, graduates would be looking at roughly three months of gross income to cover what they borrowed—a reasonable tradeoff for entering a skilled trade. The uncertainty here matters less than it might for a marginal program, since even moderately higher debt wouldn't drastically alter the value equation when first-year earnings are this strong.

What's worth noting is that this program outperforms 80% of precision metal working programs nationally while sitting at the 60th percentile within Kentucky—suggesting the state has developed genuine strength in training for manufacturing and metal trades. For a student interested in machining or fabrication work, this combination of strong immediate earnings and modest estimated debt makes the program a defensible choice, though confirming actual debt levels with the financial aid office would help eliminate the remaining uncertainty.

Where Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Elizabethtown Community and Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Kentucky

Precision Metal Working associates's programs at peer institutions in Kentucky (11 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtown	$4,656	$48,709	—	$11,562*	—
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeBowling Green	$4,656	$40,761	—	—*	—
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 Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, approximately 36% 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 10 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.