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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$27,696

16th percentile

40th percentile in Texas

Median Debt

$10,022

11% above national median

Analysis

Houston Community College's Precision Metal Working certificate graduates start at just $27,696—well below both the Texas median ($30,105) and the national average for this program. While this places them at the 40th percentile statewide, it's concerning that similar programs at San Jacinto Community College and Lone Star College System—also Houston-area community colleges—deliver 30-50% higher starting salaries. The gap suggests either weaker industry connections or different specializations within metalworking that command lower wages.

The program does show solid 20% earnings growth over four years, bringing graduates to $33,168, though even this improved figure lags significantly behind what graduates from top Texas programs earn immediately. At $10,022, the debt burden remains manageable, translating to monthly payments that wouldn't overwhelm these earnings. However, you're essentially financing training for a career that starts below what many retail management positions offer in Houston's job market.

For a family weighing options, this program makes sense only if your child has a specific passion for precision metalwork or a clear job offer lined up. Otherwise, exploring similar programs at San Jacinto or Lone Star—both accessible Houston-area alternatives—could mean earning $10,000-15,000 more annually right from the start. That earnings difference compounds over a career and matters considerably more than the modest debt here.

Where Houston Community College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Houston Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Houston Community College	$27,696	$33,168	+20%
School of Automotive Machinists & Technology	$43,065	$50,472	+17%
Elite Welding Academy	$38,717	$48,013	+24%
San Jacinto Community College	$42,512	$44,619	+5%
Wharton County Junior College	$28,408	$43,137	+52%

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Texas (71 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Houston Community CollegeHouston	$2,040	$27,696	$33,168	$10,022	0.36
Amarillo CollegeAmarillo	$2,136	$48,263	—	—	—
School of Automotive Machinists & TechnologyHouston	—	$43,065	$50,472	$16,354	0.38
San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena	$1,992	$42,512	$44,619	—	—
Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands	$3,090	$40,863	$28,942	$4,562	0.11
Austin Community College DistrictAustin	$2,550	$39,261	$43,110	$15,818	0.40
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 Houston Community College, approximately 37% 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 60 graduates with reported earnings and 45 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.