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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$24,327

5th percentile

25th percentile in Florida

Median Debt

$5,500

39% below national median

Analysis

With a small sample size limiting certainty, the available data on HCC's Precision Metal Working certificate raises questions about immediate career outcomes. First-year earnings of $24,327 fall well below both the state median of $33,687 and national average of $36,248. Among Florida's 53 programs, this lands at just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of in-state alternatives show stronger earnings. The state's top performers like Lively Technical College ($46,499) and Manatee Technical College ($41,602) nearly double these first-year earnings, suggesting significant variation in how well different Florida schools connect graduates to quality metalworking jobs.

The program does keep debt minimal at $5,500, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 that looks manageable on paper. However, this advantage matters less when the absolute earnings are this low—even modest debt becomes burdensome at under $25,000 annual income. The 5th percentile national ranking is particularly stark, indicating this outcome sits at the very bottom of what metalworking programs typically deliver.

If your child is committed to precision metalworking in the Tampa area, the limited financial risk makes this certificate less damaging than high-debt alternatives. But before enrolling, directly compare job placement rates and employer partnerships against other Florida technical colleges that demonstrate consistently stronger graduate earnings in this same field.

Where Hillsborough Community College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Hillsborough Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Florida (53 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa	$2,506	$24,327	—	$5,500	0.23
Lively Technical CollegeTallahassee	—	$46,499	$33,740	—	—
Manatee Technical CollegeBradenton	—	$41,602	—	—	—
Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth	$3,050	$41,518	$48,201	—	—
Pinellas Technical College-ClearwaterClearwater	—	$40,795	—	—	—
Orange Technical College-South CampusOrlando	—	$39,539	—	—	—
National Median	—	$36,248	—	$9,000	0.25

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 Hillsborough Community College, approximately 42% 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 23 graduates with reported earnings and 20 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.