Precision Metal Working at Spokane Community College

Spokane Community College's precision metalworking certificate puts graduates roughly $3,000 behind what they'd earn from the typical Washington program in this field—landing at the 40th percentile statewide. While $35,309 might sound modest for first-year earnings, the real concern is the trajectory in a state where metalworking programs often start graduates closer to $38,000. Perry Technical Institute, just 140 miles away in Yakima, gets its graduates to over $41,000 in year one.

The debt burden itself is reasonable at $9,500, creating a manageable 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's actually slightly above the national median debt for metalworking programs, though not by much. For families choosing between Washington's two dozen metalworking programs, the question becomes whether proximity to Spokane justifies the earnings gap. The manufacturing sector in Eastern Washington offers steady demand for skilled metalworkers, but this program's graduates aren't capturing the higher end of those opportunities.

If your student is set on staying in Spokane, this certificate provides a viable path to stable work without crushing debt. But families willing to consider Yakima or other locations should know they're leaving real money on the table—potentially $6,000 more in just the first year, which compounds significantly over a career in the trades.