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

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$34,863

Est. from MO median (4 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,913

Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

A typical debt load under $8,000 for a certificate program positions graduates to pay off their investment quickly, even with the modest earnings that precision metal working commands in Missouri. Based on comparable programs statewide, first-year earnings around $35,000 translate to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23—meaning the certificate costs roughly three months of gross income. Four years out, the median graduate earns $38,581, showing that pay doesn't climb dramatically but remains stable.

What's worth noting is the wide range among Missouri's precision metal working programs. Ranken Technical College graduates earn $45,000 in their first year—nearly $10,000 more than what similar programs in the state typically produce. That gap matters when you're working with tight margins. State Fair sits near the middle of Missouri's outcomes, slightly below the national median for this credential. For families concerned about minimizing debt while gaining entry to skilled trades, the low borrowing requirement makes this a relatively safe bet, though the ceiling on earnings means it's a modest one.

The practical takeaway: this certificate gets you working quickly with minimal debt burden, but don't expect income growth to accelerate substantially. If your student is mechanically inclined and wants stable work without major financial risk, this path delivers. If they're aiming for higher earning potential in manufacturing, comparing outcomes at programs like Ranken would be worthwhile.

Where State Fair 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
State Fair Community College	—	$38,581	—
Ferris State University	$68,852	$74,137	+8%
Ranken Technical College	$45,004	$49,350	+10%
Ozarks Technical Community College	$32,817	$39,166	+19%
Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri	$31,630	$33,836	+7%

Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (23 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
State Fair Community CollegeSedalia	$4,104	$34,863*	$38,581	$7,913*	—
Ranken Technical CollegeSaint Louis	$17,490	$45,004*	$49,350	$9,500*	0.21
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City	$3,630	$36,908*	—	—*	—
Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfield	$4,184	$32,817*	$39,166	$4,737*	0.14
Midwest Technical Institute-MissouriSpringfield	—	$31,630*	$33,836	$9,500*	0.30
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 State Fair Community College, approximately 33% 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 MO. Actual outcomes may vary.