Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Tulsa Welding School-Houston

Median Earnings (1yr)

$31,821

29th percentile

60th percentile in Texas

Median Debt

$9,500

6% above national median

Analysis

This precision metal working program delivers solid value within Texas but falls short of national standards. While first-year earnings of $31,821 rank in just the 29th percentile nationally, they place in the 60th percentile among Texas programs—meaning this program outperforms most in-state competitors despite trailing the national average by about $4,400.

The debt picture is reasonable at $9,500, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 that should allow graduates to pay off loans relatively quickly. More encouraging is the 23% earnings growth over four years, bringing median pay to $39,102—nearly matching the national median and representing meaningful career progression in this trade.

However, the program's performance pales compared to top Texas options like Amarillo College ($48,263) and several community colleges that deliver significantly higher earnings. For parents considering this investment, the program offers a practical path into skilled trades with moderate debt and decent in-state prospects, but your child could potentially earn $9,000-17,000 more annually by choosing a stronger Texas program. The high Pell grant rate (67%) suggests this school serves students who need financial accessibility, which may justify the trade-off between cost and earning potential.

Where Tulsa Welding School-Houston Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Tulsa Welding School-Houston graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Tulsa Welding School-Houston	$31,821	$39,102	+23%
School of Automotive Machinists & Technology	$43,065	$50,472	+17%
Elite Welding Academy	$38,717	$48,013	+24%
San Jacinto Community College	$42,512	$44,619	+5%
Wharton County Junior College	$28,408	$43,137	+52%

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Texas (71 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Tulsa Welding School-HoustonHouston	—	$31,821	$39,102	$9,500	0.30
Amarillo CollegeAmarillo	$2,136	$48,263	—	—	—
School of Automotive Machinists & TechnologyHouston	—	$43,065	$50,472	$16,354	0.38
San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena	$1,992	$42,512	$44,619	—	—
Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands	$3,090	$40,863	$28,942	$4,562	0.11
Austin Community College DistrictAustin	$2,550	$39,261	$43,110	$15,818	0.40
National Median	—	$36,248	—	$9,000	0.25

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 Tulsa Welding School-Houston, approximately 67% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 3486 graduates with reported earnings and 3668 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.