Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Nicolet Area Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,852

Est. from WI median (14 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,000

Est. from WI median (13 programs)

Analysis

The drop from an estimated $41,852 in year one to just $34,527 by year four raises immediate questions about this program's trajectory. While similar precision metalworking certificates in Wisconsin typically result in manageable debt around $7,000, watching earnings decline over time rather than grow suggests either limited advancement opportunities or workforce instability in this field—neither of which parents want for their investment.

Other Wisconsin tech colleges produce notably stronger outcomes in this field. Fox Valley graduates earn $53,507, and even programs at Northcentral and Blackhawk top $44,000—both well above what Nicolet's peer programs suggest. The debt load here is reasonable, but reasonable debt matters less when you're earning $10,000-$20,000 less than graduates from schools just a few hours away.

The fundamental issue is that this program appears to underperform its in-state competition while also showing backwards earnings growth. If your child is set on precision metalworking, programs at Fox Valley, Chippewa Valley, or Lakeshore demonstrate that this credential can lead to solid middle-class earnings. At Nicolet, the combination of estimated lower starting pay and declining four-year outcomes suggests you'd be better served looking at those stronger programs—especially since technical college credits often transfer within Wisconsin's system.

Where Nicolet Area Technical College Stands

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Nicolet Area Technical College	—	$34,527	—
Madison Area Technical College	$37,860	$53,952	+43%
Fox Valley Technical College	$53,507	$52,715	-1%
Chippewa Valley Technical College	$48,638	$51,817	+7%
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College	$35,167	$50,833	+45%

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (17 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Nicolet Area Technical CollegeRhinelander	$4,724	$41,852*	$34,527	$7,000*	—
Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton	$4,916	$53,507*	$52,715	$7,664*	0.14
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire	$4,724	$48,638*	$51,817	$8,109*	0.17
Lakeshore Technical CollegeCleveland	$4,649	$48,619*	$47,025	—*	—
Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau	$3,861	$47,718*	$45,028	$5,250*	0.11
Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville	$4,170	$44,698*	$45,468	—*	—
National Median	—	$36,248*	—	$9,000*	0.25

* Estimated from similar programs

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 Nicolet Area Technical College, approximately 25% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 14 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.