Precision Metal Working at Southwest Texas Junior College
with a smaller student body of 3,170 in Uvalde, TX.
Program Analysis
Southwest Texas Junior College's Precision Metal Working graduates start at $16,469/yr, trailing the $36,869 national average by 55%. The program's value hinges on affordability.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 95.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Precision Metal Working programs nationally.
The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 13% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Precision Metal Working graduates.
Ranked #258 of 355 Precision Metal Working programs, Southwest Texas Junior College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $40,790 show a 148% jump from the $16,469 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.
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.