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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$25,970

11th percentile

10th percentile in Colorado

Median Debt

$6,625

26% below national median

Analysis

Pueblo Community College's precision metal working certificate starts at earnings that fall significantly below expectations—graduates rank in just the 10th percentile statewide, earning $37,249 less than peers at top Colorado programs like Aims Community College. That first-year figure of $25,970 is nearly $11,000 below Colorado's median for this field and almost $10,000 below the national benchmark.

The silver lining is 30% earnings growth over four years, bringing graduates to $33,636—though even this improved number still lags behind what most other Colorado programs deliver right out of the gate. At least the debt burden is manageable at $6,625, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 that's better than many alternatives. However, when other Colorado schools are placing graduates into $40,000+ positions within the first year, even low debt can't compensate for the earnings gap.

For parents considering this program, the core issue is opportunity cost. Your child could attend Aims Community College or Emily Griffith Technical College nearby and potentially earn $15,000-$20,000 more annually from day one. Unless there are compelling geographic or personal reasons to stay in Pueblo, the data suggests looking at Colorado's higher-performing metal working programs first.

Where Pueblo Community College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Pueblo Community 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
Pueblo Community College	$25,970	$33,636	+30%
Ferris State University	$68,852	$74,137	+8%
Alexandria Technical & Community College	$51,141	$55,483	+8%
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver	$37,249	$42,279	+14%
Front Range Community College	$34,125	$42,114	+23%

Compare to Similar Programs in Colorado

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Colorado (15 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Pueblo Community CollegePueblo	$4,883	$25,970	$33,636	$6,625	0.26
Aims Community CollegeGreeley	$2,090	$47,680	—	—	—
Emily Griffith Technical CollegeDenver	—	$44,943	—	$8,125	0.18
Lincoln College of Technology-DenverDenver	—	$37,249	$42,279	$9,429	0.25
Front Range Community CollegeWestminster	$4,740	$34,125	$42,114	$8,347	0.24
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 Pueblo Community College, approximately 28% 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 30 graduates with reported earnings and 27 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.