Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Tri-County Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$34,928

Est. from SC median (9 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$10,390

Est. from SC median (6 programs)

Analysis

Is nearly $35,000 in first-year earnings worth roughly $10,400 in debt for a technical certificate? Based on comparable precision metal working programs across South Carolina, that's the math facing graduates of this program. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 is manageable—you're looking at debt equal to about four months of income—but the earning potential appears modest compared to what's possible in this field. Several South Carolina technical colleges report their precision metal working graduates earning $38,000 to $50,000 in their first year, suggesting significant variation in program outcomes or local job markets.

The challenge is that with 40% of students receiving Pell grants, many families are counting on this certificate to deliver meaningful wage gains quickly. Precision metal working can lead to solid manufacturing careers, but the estimated earnings here sit at the lower end of what similar programs produce statewide. The national benchmark of $36,248 suggests slightly stronger earning potential elsewhere, though the estimated debt is actually higher than the national median of $9,000.

If your child is considering this program, focus on understanding Tri-County's specific employer connections and job placement rates in the Upstate manufacturing corridor. The financial framework isn't prohibitive, but other technical colleges in South Carolina appear to produce stronger initial earnings in this same field—making local employment outcomes the decisive factor.

Where Tri-County Technical College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Tri-County Technical CollegePendleton	$4,448	$34,928*	—	$10,390*	—
York Technical CollegeRock Hill	$5,512	$50,309*	$43,479	$11,250*	0.22
Midlands Technical CollegeWest Columbia	$4,788	$47,556*	—	$10,500*	0.22
Spartanburg Community CollegeSpartanburg	$5,046	$38,147*	$36,665	—*	—
Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeFlorence	$4,636	$34,948*	$36,439	$7,230*	0.21
Piedmont Technical CollegeGreenwood	$4,775	$34,928*	$38,383	$11,625*	0.33
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 Tri-County Technical 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 9 similar programs in SC. Actual outcomes may vary.