Precision Metal Working at Southern Technical College
a smaller institution with 1,686 students in Orlando, FL.
Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $31,007 place Southern Technical College below the $36,869 national median for Precision Metal Working — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 9% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.
Median debt of $20,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $31,007 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.
Ranked #305 of 355 Precision Metal Working programs, Southern Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Precision Metal Working offers 131 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
Top Career Paths
Top career paths for Precision Metal Working graduates by median salary.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Growth | AI-ProofAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer numerically controlled tool programmers | $65,670 | +12.8% | 20% |
| Tool and die makers | $63,180 | -10.8% | 81% |
| Model makers, metal and plastic | $62,700 | -18.2% | 84% |
About Precision Metal Working Careers
You’ll begin your career with your hands on the tools of the trade. As a welder, you could be fusing steel beams high on a construction site or meticulously joining pipes for critical infrastructure. As a machinist, you might work from complex blueprints, operating lathes and mills to craft high-tolerance parts for the aerospace or medical industries. Most paths start with an apprenticeship, learning directly from seasoned professionals on the job.