Precision Metal Working at Pine Technical & Community College

Based on comparable precision metalworking programs in Minnesota, this associate's degree appears positioned to deliver solid returns. The estimated $53,468 first-year earnings tracks with the state median and falls comfortably above the $41,504 national benchmark—suggesting Minnesota's manufacturing sector pays metalworkers notably better than most states. With projected debt around $11,562, graduates would owe roughly one-fifth of their first-year income, a manageable ratio that should allow relatively quick payoff even on an entry-level metalworker's salary.

The wrinkle here is that both figures are estimates drawn from peer programs since Pine Tech's graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to publish. Looking at Minnesota schools with reported data, outcomes span from $44,635 to nearly $60,000, placing the state median estimate right in the middle of that range. Whether Pine Tech lands closer to Hennepin Technical's stronger numbers or below the median depends on factors these estimates can't capture—equipment quality, employer connections, and how well instruction translates to shop floor competencies.

For parents, the fundamental question is whether your child can handle the hands-on technical demands and whether they're genuinely interested in manufacturing work. If those boxes check, the debt load is low enough that even landing toward the bottom of Minnesota's range would still produce a workable financial outcome for a two-year credential.