by our College Data Analytics Team
[Precision Metal Working](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 63 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying precision metal working schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send precision metal working graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Ferris State University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid precision metal working graduates in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a public institution. Precision Metal Working graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of about $81,431 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes Wayne County Schools Career Center one of the highest-paying schools for precision metal working. Located in the town of Smithville, Wayne County Schools Career Center is a public institution. Early-career precision metal working graduates from Wayne County Schools Career Center make a median of around $56,496 per year.
Portage Lakes Career Center came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying precision metal working schools. Set in the suburb of Uniontown, Portage Lakes Career Center is a public institution. Students who complete the precision metal working program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,805.
Strong graduate earnings at Fox Valley Technical College earned it the #4 place for precision metal working. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the precision metal working program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,800.
A rank of #5 makes Sauk Valley Community College one of the highest-paying schools for precision metal working. Sauk Valley Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Dixon. Students who complete the precision metal working program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,483.
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying precision metal working schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, precision metal working degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College typically earn about $53,119 annually.
Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for precision metal working. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the precision metal working program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,152.
Northern Michigan University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for precision metal working. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career precision metal working graduates from Northern Michigan University make a median of around $51,486 per year.
Bay De Noc Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying precision metal working schools. Located in the town of Escanaba, Bay De Noc Community College is a public institution. After graduating, precision metal working degree recipients from Bay De Noc Community College typically earn about $50,785 annually.
Gogebic Community College came in at #10 for precision metal working graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Ironwood, Gogebic Community College is a public institution. After graduating, precision metal working degree recipients from Gogebic Community College typically earn about $49,727 annually.
Vincennes University landed the #11 spot for precision metal working salaries this year. Vincennes University is a public school located in the town of Vincennes. Precision Metal Working graduates of Vincennes University earn a median of about $58,880 a year early in their careers.
Auburn Career Center ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying precision metal working schools. Set in the suburb of Concord Twp, Auburn Career Center is a public institution. Early-career precision metal working graduates from Auburn Career Center make a median of around $49,658 per year.
Waukesha County Technical College earned the #13 position for precision metal working graduate earnings this year. Waukesha County Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. Early-career precision metal working graduates from Waukesha County Technical College make a median of around $59,016 per year.
Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology came in at #14 for precision metal working graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Troy, Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career precision metal working graduates from Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology make a median of around $53,731 per year.
Lakeshore Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying precision metal working schools. Lakeshore Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Cleveland. After graduating, precision metal working degree recipients from Lakeshore Technical College typically earn about $48,783 annually.
Northcentral Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying precision metal working schools. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a public institution. Precision Metal Working graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of about $50,844 a year early in their careers.
Blackhawk Technical College earned the #17 position for precision metal working graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Janesville, Blackhawk Technical College is a public institution. Early-career precision metal working graduates from Blackhawk Technical College make a median of around $51,844 per year.
Ivy Tech Community College landed the #18 spot for precision metal working salaries this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Precision Metal Working graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of about $55,932 a year early in their careers.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for precision metal working. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a public school located in the city of Green Bay. Students who complete the precision metal working program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,860.
Elgin Community College earned the #20 position for precision metal working graduate earnings this year. Elgin Community College is a public school located in the city of Elgin. Precision Metal Working graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of about $47,692 a year early in their careers.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned the #21 position for precision metal working graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a public institution. Precision Metal Working graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of about $51,373 a year early in their careers.
Moraine Park Technical College came in at #22 for precision metal working graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, precision metal working degree recipients from Moraine Park Technical College typically earn about $52,016 annually.
Western Technical College La Cross earned the #23 position for precision metal working graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a public institution. Students who complete the precision metal working program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,221.
Elite Welding Academy Llc came in at #24 for precision metal working graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, Elite Welding Academy Llc is a private for-profit institution. Early-career precision metal working graduates from Elite Welding Academy Llc make a median of around $52,408 per year.
Elite Welding Academy South Point came in at #25 for precision metal working graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of South Point, Elite Welding Academy South Point is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the precision metal working program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,408.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid precision metal working ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their precision metal working graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 63 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.