Precision Metal Working graduates from Western Dakota Technical College earn $51,988 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $12,000.
Precision Metal Working at Western Dakota Technical College
Rapid City, South Dakota • Associate's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Precision Metal Working at Western Dakota Technical College
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Western Dakota Technical College and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Precision Metal Working at the associate's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 14 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Western Dakota Technical College, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $51,988 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $46,854 across all institutions offering Precision Metal Working, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Western Dakota Technical College, the mean median-earnings figure is $45,055, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Precision Metal Working graduates at Western Dakota Technical College is $12,000, which translates to roughly $100 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Precision Metal Working at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Ferris State University | $86,941 | $16,303 |
| Del Mar College | $79,303 | — |
| Hennepin Technical College | $76,020 | — |
| Des Moines Area Community College | $75,145 | — |
| Ivy Tech Community College | $75,002 | — |
| Cape Fear Community College | $72,899 | — |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | $70,886 | $12,000 |
| Clark College | $70,504 | — |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | $70,298 | $14,250 |
| Austin Community College District | $69,185 | — |
Other Programs at Western Dakota Technical College
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $67,204 | $12,000 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $59,696 | $14,750 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $55,671 | — |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $54,948 | $12,483 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | $53,976 | $12,720 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $53,185 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $52,795 | $15,176 |
| Precision Metal Working (current) | $51,988 | $12,000 |
| Precision Metal Working | $48,803 | $8,250 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,659 | $15,750 |
Other Schools with Precision Metal Working
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.