Precision Metal Working at New Castle School of Trades

New Castle School of Trades graduates enter the workforce earning about $3,400 more than the typical Pennsylvania precision metalworking graduate—placing this program in the 60th percentile statewide. More importantly, students leave with just $9,931 in debt, roughly $4,000 less than Pennsylvania's median for these programs and well below the national average. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23, graduates owe less than three months of their starting salary, making this one of the more affordable paths into skilled manufacturing.

The earnings plateau is worth noting: four years out, graduates earn essentially what they made in year one. This isn't necessarily alarming in trades where workers often reach journeyman wages quickly, but it means the financial trajectory is flat rather than climbing. Top Pennsylvania programs like Thaddeus Stevens ($52,298) and Penn College of Technology ($50,402) show there's more earning potential in this field, though likely with higher tuition costs.

For families seeking an affordable entry into manufacturing, this program delivers solid value—reasonable debt, immediate employment, and earnings that beat most state competitors. Just understand the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with a different cohort, and the career ceiling appears lower than elite technical schools in the state.