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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$31,821

29th percentile

60th percentile in Oklahoma

Median Debt

$9,500

6% above national median

Analysis

This precision metal working program delivers solid value, particularly when considering Oklahoma's job market. While the first-year earnings of $31,821 rank in just the 29th percentile nationally, they place in the 60th percentile among Oklahoma programs—meaning graduates earn more than most peers in their home state where they're likely to work. The $9,500 debt load is reasonable and actually lower than Oklahoma's median of $12,662 for this field.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 is manageable, meaning graduates can expect to earn back their full program cost in about four months of work. More encouraging is the 23% earnings growth to $39,102 by year four, suggesting good career progression potential. With 68% of students receiving Pell grants, this program clearly serves working-class students seeking accessible career training.

The key takeaway: This program works well as a regional play. While it won't make your child a top national earner in precision metal working, it provides solid preparation for Oklahoma's manufacturing sector at a reasonable cost. The combination of below-state-average debt and above-state-average earnings creates a practical pathway to middle-class employment for students who want to stay in Oklahoma.

Where Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa 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-Tulsa	$31,821	$39,102	+23%
Tulsa Technology Center	$28,983	$37,970	+31%
Gordon Cooper Technology Center	$39,018	$34,908	-11%
Community Care College	$29,721	$31,429	+6%
Oklahoma Technical College	$29,721	$31,429	+6%

Compare to Similar Programs in Oklahoma

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Oklahoma (32 total in state)

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School	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Tulsa Welding School-TulsaTulsa	$31,821	$39,102	$9,500	0.30
Gordon Cooper Technology CenterShawnee	$39,018	$34,908	—	—
Community Care CollegeTulsa	$29,721	$31,429	$12,662	0.43
Oklahoma Technical CollegeTulsa	$29,721	$31,429	$12,662	0.43
Northeast Technology CenterPryor	$29,365	—	—	—
Tulsa Technology CenterTulsa	$28,983	$37,970	—	—
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-Tulsa, approximately 68% 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.