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

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$40,866

Est. from UT median (4 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,913

Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

Is a certificate in precision metal working worth $7,913 in debt? The estimated figures from peer programs in Utah suggest yes—with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.19, graduates would owe less than three months of their first-year salary. Similar programs across Utah typically produce first-year earnings around $41,000, putting Salt Lake Community College right in the competitive range, though a few technical colleges in the state do edge slightly higher. The estimated debt load is also somewhat lower than the national median of $9,000 for this credential.

What's less clear is the earnings trajectory. While the program appears to position graduates for solid entry-level metalworking jobs, fourth-year earnings of $38,256 actually dip below the estimated first-year figure. This could reflect the variability in metalworking specialties—some lead to steady wage growth, others plateau—or it might simply be noise in a small data sample. The sparse data here means we're working with broad strokes rather than this specific program's track record.

For families considering this path, the manageable debt and competitive estimated starting salary create a reasonable foundation. But given the data limitations, it's worth connecting directly with the program to understand job placement specifics and whether graduates typically advance into higher-paying positions or need additional credentials to increase earnings over time.

Where Salt Lake 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
Salt Lake Community College	—	$38,256	—
Ferris State University	$68,852	$74,137	+8%
Alexandria Technical & Community College	$51,141	$55,483	+8%
Ogden-Weber Technical College	$39,699	$46,922	+18%
Mountainland Technical College	$42,032	$35,137	-16%

Compare to Similar Programs in Utah

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Utah (11 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Salt Lake Community CollegeSalt Lake City	$4,257	$40,866*	$38,256	$7,913*	—
Davis Technical CollegeKaysville	—	$45,350*	—	—*	—
Mountainland Technical CollegeLehi	—	$42,032*	$35,137	—*	—
Ogden-Weber Technical CollegeOgden	—	$39,699*	$46,922	—*	—
Southwest Technical CollegeCedar City	—	$35,838*	—	—*	—
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 Salt Lake Community College, approximately 16% 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 UT. Actual outcomes may vary.