Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at NTMA Machinist Career College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$38,259

63rd percentile

60th percentile in California

Median Debt

$8,418

6% below national median

Analysis

NTMA Machinist Career College's precision metalworking program serves a predominantly working-class student body (67% receive Pell grants) and delivers middle-of-the-road outcomes. Starting at $38,259, graduates earn about 16% more than the state median for this field and rank in the 60th percentile among California's 87 programs. The debt load of $8,418 is manageable—just three months of first-year earnings—and lower than typical for this credential. With consistent 10% earnings growth to $42,216 by year four, graduates see steady if unspectacular progress in their trades.

The program falls noticeably behind California's top performers like Santa Ana College ($45,864) but represents a reasonable entry point into manufacturing careers. For families concerned about training costs, the low debt burden matters more here than at programs with six-figure earnings potential. Most students leave owing less than a used car payment.

The real question is whether these earnings justify even this modest investment when higher-paying alternatives exist in-state. For students who need flexible scheduling or prefer hands-on training over community college, NTMA provides a viable path. For those with more options, exploring programs at the top of California's range could mean $7,000+ more annually from day one.

Where NTMA Machinist Career College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How NTMA Machinist Career 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
NTMA Machinist Career College	$38,259	$42,216	+10%
Summit College	$37,502	$42,958	+15%
The Fab School	$39,592	$36,707	-7%
CET-El Centro	$32,817	$35,652	+9%
CET-Colton	$32,817	$35,652	+9%

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in California (87 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
NTMA Machinist Career CollegeSanta Fe Springs	—	$38,259	$42,216	$8,418	0.22
Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana	$1,180	$45,864	—	—	—
The Fab SchoolRancho Cucamonga	—	$39,592	$36,707	$4,449	0.11
Universal Technical Institute-Southern CaliforniaLong Beach	—	$37,568	—	—	—
Universal Technical Institute of California IncRancho Cucamonga	—	$37,568	—	$10,593	0.28
Summit CollegeSan Bernardino	—	$37,502	$42,958	$7,600	0.20
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 NTMA Machinist Career College, approximately 67% 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 282 graduates with reported earnings and 287 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.