Precision Metal Working (Associate's Degree) at South Plains College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$35,123

Est. from TX median (5 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$9,168

Est. from TX median (3 programs)

Analysis

Texas metalworking programs vary dramatically, with first-year earnings spanning from $32,000 to $45,000 across the state. South Plains College's program appears to land in the middle based on similar programs in Texas, with estimated first-year earnings around $35,000 and projected debt near $9,200. That debt load—equivalent to just three months of earnings—represents one of the lighter burdens you'll find in skilled trades education. By year four, earnings tick up to roughly $40,400, though this still trails the national median for metalworking programs by about $1,100.

The challenge is knowing where this program actually sits. Austin Community College's metalworking graduates earn nearly $10,000 more in their first year, while Texas State Technical College alumni also outpace these estimates. Whether South Plains delivers outcomes closer to those stronger programs or to the lower-performing ones makes a significant difference in return on investment. The 40% Pell grant enrollment suggests South Plains serves students who can't necessarily afford to bet wrong on program quality.

The light debt burden offers some cushion for uncertainty, and metalworking skills do command solid middle-class wages in Texas. Before committing, though, reach out to South Plains directly for actual placement rates and starting salaries for recent graduates—real outcomes matter more than regional averages when you're the one writing the tuition check.

Where South Plains College Stands

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
South Plains College	—	$40,436	—
Texas State Technical College	$39,234	$49,323	+26%
Austin Community College District	$45,279	$48,510	+7%
Trinity Valley Community College	$35,123	$45,541	+30%
Vernon College	$32,206	$37,399	+16%

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Precision Metal Working associates's programs at peer institutions in Texas (41 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
South Plains CollegeLevelland	$2,581	$35,123*	$40,436	$9,168*	—
Austin Community College DistrictAustin	$2,550	$45,279*	$48,510	$14,122*	0.31
Texas State Technical CollegeWaco	$7,192	$39,234*	$49,323	$9,168*	0.23
Trinity Valley Community CollegeAthens	$2,640	$35,123*	$45,541	—*	—
South Texas CollegeMcAllen	$4,920	$33,167*	—	—*	—
Vernon CollegeVernon	$4,080	$32,206*	$37,399	$5,500*	0.17
National Median	—	$41,504*	—	$12,000*	0.29

* 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 South Plains College, approximately 40% 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 5 similar programs in TX. Actual outcomes may vary.