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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$34,928

44th percentile

60th percentile in South Carolina

Median Debt

$11,625

29% above national median

Analysis

Piedmont Technical College's precision metalworking certificate costs $11,625 and leads to first-year earnings of $34,928—a manageable debt load that graduates can realistically pay off within two years. While this program sits in the 60th percentile among South Carolina's metalworking offerings, it's worth noting that several other technical colleges in the state produce significantly better outcomes, with York Tech and Midlands Tech graduates earning $15,000-$20,000 more annually.

The program does show steady earnings growth, with graduates reaching $38,383 by year four, a 10% increase that suggests genuine skill development. The debt burden remains reasonable compared to what certificate programs typically charge—landing in the 14th percentile nationally means graduates carry less debt than 86% of their peers elsewhere. For a working-class family in Greenwood where nearly half of students receive Pell grants, this accessibility matters.

However, if your child has geographic flexibility, they should seriously consider the state's higher-performing programs. The $15,000 annual earnings gap between Piedmont and top-tier alternatives like York Tech represents a substantial difference in lifetime earnings. If Greenwood's local job market or family obligations make Piedmont the practical choice, the program offers decent value with manageable debt. But if relocation is possible, stronger options exist elsewhere in South Carolina's technical college system.

Where Piedmont Technical College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Piedmont Technical 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
Piedmont Technical College	$34,928	$38,383	+10%
York Technical College	$50,309	$43,479	-14%
Greenville Technical College	$34,761	$37,979	+9%
Spartanburg Community College	$38,147	$36,665	-4%
Florence-Darlington Technical College	$34,948	$36,439	+4%

Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Piedmont Technical CollegeGreenwood	$4,775	$34,928	$38,383	$11,625	0.33
York Technical CollegeRock Hill	$5,512	$50,309	$43,479	$11,250	0.22
Midlands Technical CollegeWest Columbia	$4,788	$47,556	—	$10,500	0.22
Spartanburg Community CollegeSpartanburg	$5,046	$38,147	$36,665	—	—
Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeFlorence	$4,636	$34,948	$36,439	$7,230	0.21
ArclabsPiedmont	—	$34,843	—	$9,500	0.27
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 Piedmont Technical College, approximately 48% 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 32 graduates with reported earnings and 29 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.