Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Passaic County Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,249

Est. from NJ median (4 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,913

Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

A technical certificate with estimated debt under $8,000 presents manageable risk, especially when peer programs across the state suggest first-year earnings around $37,000. Based on comparable metalworking programs in New Jersey, graduates typically earn enough to cover their debt burden in under three months of full-time work—a ratio that puts vocational training squarely in "reasonable investment" territory. With over half of students receiving Pell grants, this appears to be a program serving working-class families who need practical credentials without excessive borrowing.

The $37,000 estimate aligns closely with the national median for precision metalworking programs, suggesting New Jersey's industrial economy offers typical opportunities for skilled trades workers rather than premium wages. Other metalworking programs in the state show some variation—Universal Technical Institute graduates report nearly $39,000, while Hohokus graduates earn notably less—but the clustering around $37,000 across multiple schools provides reasonable confidence in the estimate. The debt figure, derived from similar community college certificate programs nationally, appears conservative given that New Jersey schools in this field typically see slightly higher debt loads.

For families weighing this path, the key advantage is speed to employment with minimal financial exposure. The uncertainty lies in whether Passaic County specifically can match the placement outcomes of its competitors, but the fundamental economics—modest debt for direct entry into steady manufacturing work—remain sound even if actual outcomes vary somewhat from these peer-based estimates.

Where Passaic County Community College Stands

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

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	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Passaic County Community CollegePaterson	$5,580	$37,249*	—	$7,913*	—
Universal Technical Institute-BloomfieldBloomfield	—	$39,141*	—	—*	—
Lincoln Technical Institute-South PlainfieldSouth Plainfield	—	$37,249*	$42,279	$9,429*	0.25
Lincoln Technical Institute-MahwahMahwah	—	$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

* 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 Passaic County Community College, approximately 53% 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 4 similar programs in NJ. Actual outcomes may vary.