Precision Metal Working at Hillsborough Community College

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.