Precision Metal Working at Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield

This precision metal working program delivers solid, middle-of-the-pack performance that should appeal to families seeking practical career training without crushing debt. With first-year earnings of $37,249 and manageable debt of $9,429, graduates face a very reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.25—meaning they'd need roughly three months of gross income to pay off their educational investment.

The program performs respectably both nationally (57th percentile) and within New Jersey (60th percentile), placing it squarely in the middle tier among the state's 10 precision metal working programs. What's particularly encouraging is the 14% earnings growth from year one to year four, reaching $42,279, which suggests real career advancement potential. The debt level sits at the 40th percentile nationally, meaning 60% of similar programs saddle students with more debt.

For anxious parents, this represents a relatively safe bet in vocational education. Your child would enter a field with immediate earning potential and room for growth, while taking on debt that won't dominate their financial life. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates gives confidence in these outcomes. While this isn't the highest-earning technical program available, it offers a pragmatic path to stable employment with debt levels that won't keep you awake at night.