Precision Metal Working at Lone Star College System
with 47,486 students enrolled in The Woodlands, TX.
Program Analysis
Lone Star College System's Precision Metal Working graduates start at $40,863/yr — above the $36,869 national average, though not by a wide margin.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 146.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Precision Metal Working programs nationally.
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.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $3,500 in median debt clears fast against $40,863 in annual earnings.
Ranked #26 of 355 programs, Lone Star College System's Precision Metal Working program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.
Precision Metal Working offers 131 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
Earnings Overview
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.