by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 17 U.S. colleges awarded 3,371 degrees and certificates in Gunsmithing/Gunsmith. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 39% of graduates. College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Gunsmithing/Gunsmith Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $47,220 one year after completing, rising to $58,456 after four years.
Studying Gunsmithing/Gunsmith covers Gunsmithing/gunsmith. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Make, Repair, Maintain, And Modify Firearms According To Blueprints Or Customer Specifications, Using Specialized Hand Tools And Machines.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., gunsmithing/gunsmith draws strong interest, with 3,371 degrees awarded annually. 17 colleges award gunsmithing/gunsmith degrees, an average of 198 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 2,979.
By level, the 3,371 awards include 1,202 certificates, 1,331 associate degrees, 3 bachelor’s degrees and 835 master’s degrees.
Women earned 2% of gunsmithing/gunsmith degrees and certificates in the latest year (75 of 3,371). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,504) and Hispanic or Latino (418), and international students earned 5.
College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Gunsmithing/Gunsmith Schools ranking, including 4 for associate degrees. It also ranks gunsmithing/gunsmith schools within 2 states. In all, 17 colleges offer gunsmithing/gunsmith programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Gunsmithing/Gunsmith Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common gunsmithing/gunsmith credential is the associate degree: 1,331 of the 3,371 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to gunsmithing/gunsmith call most for Operations Monitoring, Monitoring and Troubleshooting, and for knowledge of Mechanical, English Language and Physics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Deductive Reasoning and Problem Sensitivity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a gunsmithing/gunsmith degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,202 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,331 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 835 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to gunsmithing/gunsmith, at 65.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 65.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 20.5% |
| Some college courses | 12.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Gunsmithing/Gunsmith, with an average median salary of $52,121; the strongest outlook belongs to Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other, at 13.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Field Distribution Technician, Operations Technician, Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Technician) and Pump Technician.
The occupation related to gunsmithing/gunsmith with the most projected jobs is Geothermal Technicians, at 39,974.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Geothermal Technicians | 39,974 | 0.1% |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other | 28,851 | 13.1% |
Gunsmithing/Gunsmith graduates earn a median $47,220 one year after completing their program, $58,456 after four years and $44,868 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $47,220 |
| 4 years | $58,456 |
| 5 years | $44,868 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to gunsmithing/gunsmith, with a median salary of $64,661.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Geothermal Technicians | $64,661 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other | $39,581 |
Gunsmithing/Gunsmith has 5 similar majors in the Mechanic & Repair Technologies field, which together award 363 degrees a year; the largest are Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair (201), Watchmaking and Jewelrymaking (78) and Locksmithing and Safe Repair (43). Browse all Mechanic & Repair Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
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