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

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,004

Est. from NC median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,913

Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

A $7,900 debt load for a credential that typically leads to nearly $37,000 in first-year earnings represents one of the better entry points into manufacturing trades. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 means graduates from comparable programs in North Carolina could pay off their entire student debt in roughly three months of gross earnings—a scenario rarely seen in higher education. The four-year earnings figure of $41,000 suggests steady income growth, though precision metal working careers often peak earlier than degree-requiring fields.

The real question is whether Pitt Community College's specific program delivers results closer to Davidson-Davie's nearly $40,000 outcomes or Johnston Community College's $34,000 figure. Similar programs across North Carolina's 59 schools cluster tightly around the $37,000 mark, and Pitt's location in eastern North Carolina—where manufacturing remains robust—could work in graduates' favor. The estimated debt here is notably lower than the state median of $10,593, which matters when you're trying to establish financial footing quickly after a short credential program.

For families where a four-year degree isn't the right fit, this path offers quick workforce entry at minimal financial risk. The numbers from peer programs suggest your child could be earning a livable wage within months of completing the certificate, with debt that won't shadow them for years. Just verify current job placement rates and whether local manufacturers actively recruit from Pitt's program specifically.

Where Pitt Community 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
Pitt Community College	—	$41,038	—
Ferris State University	$68,852	$74,137	+8%
Alexandria Technical & Community College	$51,141	$55,483	+8%
Idaho State University	$64,581	$55,405	-14%
Guilford Technical Community College	$36,930	$36,750	-0%

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (59 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Pitt Community CollegeWinterville	$1,972	$37,004*	$41,038	$7,913*	—
Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville	$1,978	$39,990*	—	$11,000*	0.28
NASCAR Technical InstituteMooresville	—	$37,568*	—	$10,593*	0.28
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville	$2,882	$37,078*	—	—*	—
Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown	$2,319	$36,930*	$36,750	—*	—
Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield	$2,657	$34,171*	—	—*	—
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 Pitt Community College, approximately 38% 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 6 similar programs in NC. Actual outcomes may vary.