Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Gaston College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,004

Est. from NC median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,913

Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

The estimated $7,913 in debt for Gaston College's precision metal working certificate looks manageable against projected first-year earnings around $37,000—a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 that suggests graduates could reasonably pay off loans within a year of full-time work. Based on similar programs across North Carolina, this field appears to deliver consistent outcomes, with the state median sitting right at $37,000 and comparable community colleges reporting actual earnings in the $35,000-$40,000 range. The debt estimate comes from national data across similar technical certificates, which tend to carry lower borrowing than bachelor's degrees.

What matters here is the credential's practicality: precision metalworking opens doors to manufacturing jobs that North Carolina's industrial sector actively needs, and the training is focused enough to complete quickly. The estimated debt is notably lower than the $10,593 state median for this credential, though remember both figures are approximations based on peer schools. Programs at Davidson-Davie and NASCAR Technical Institute report slightly higher earnings, but all cluster within a $5,000 range—suggesting the field itself, rather than the specific school, largely determines outcomes.

For a parent weighing this option, the numbers point toward a low-risk investment if your child has aptitude for hands-on technical work. The short timeline to completion and modest debt load mean less financial exposure than a traditional four-year degree, though the earning ceiling may also be lower long-term.

Where Gaston 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
Gaston CollegeDallas	$3,186	$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 Gaston College, approximately 26% 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.