Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah

Median Earnings (1yr)

$37,249

57th percentile

60th percentile in New Jersey

Median Debt

$9,429

5% above national median

Analysis

Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah's precision metal working program delivers solid middle-of-the-pack performance with one standout advantage: exceptionally manageable debt. At $9,429 in median debt, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.25, meaning they'll owe roughly three months' salary—far below what's typical for most career training programs.

The earnings picture is steady rather than spectacular. Starting at $37,249, graduates see their pay grow to $42,279 by year four, representing 14% growth. This places the program in the 60th percentile among New Jersey's precision metal working programs and 57th percentile nationally—essentially average performance. Among the state's top programs, Lincoln-Mahwah ties for second place with their South Plainfield campus, trailing only Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield by about $2,000.

For parents concerned about education debt, this program offers a compelling value proposition. The low debt load means your child can start building wealth almost immediately rather than spending years paying off loans. While the earnings aren't exceptional, they're competitive for the field, and the robust sample size of 100+ graduates gives confidence in these outcomes. This is a pragmatic choice that prioritizes financial stability over maximum earning potential—ideal for families who want career training without the financial stress.

Where Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah 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
Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah	$37,249	$42,279	+14%
Ferris State University	$68,852	$74,137	+8%
Alexandria Technical & Community College	$51,141	$55,483	+8%
Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences	$26,736	$47,845	+79%
Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield	$37,249	$42,279	+14%

Compare to Similar Programs in New Jersey

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in New Jersey (10 total in state)

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School	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Lincoln Technical Institute-MahwahMahwah	$37,249	$42,279	$9,429	0.25
Universal Technical Institute-BloomfieldBloomfield	$39,141	—	—	—
Lincoln Technical Institute-South PlainfieldSouth Plainfield	$37,249	$42,279	$9,429	0.25
Hohokus School of Trade and Technical SciencesPaterson	$26,736	$47,845	$7,600	0.28
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 Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah, approximately 44% 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 1223 graduates with reported earnings and 1194 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.