Precision Metal Working at Reid State Technical College

Evergreen, AL · Public · Certificate

with a smaller student body of 365 in Evergreen, AL.

Program Analysis

At $24,349 per year, Precision Metal Working graduates from Reid State Technical College earn below the $36,869 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 44.3x 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.

Ranked #322 of 355 Precision Metal Working programs, Reid State 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.

46 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
46
Low End
46
Score
47
High End
Earnings $24,349/yr (-34% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (87% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (164,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$279K
3.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
45.8x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
22 of 24
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$6,100
Out-of-state: $10,700

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%
Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
$65,670
+12.8% growth 20% AI-proof
Tool and die makers
$63,180
-10.8% growth 81% AI-proof
Model makers, metal and plastic
$62,700
-18.2% growth 84% AI-proof

View all 24 career paths with full salary data →

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.

Read the full Precision Metal Working career guide →

Compare & Explore

Precision Metal Working Overview

Precision Metal Working at Other Schools

Other Majors at Reid State Technical College

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Precision Metal Working at Reid State Technical College?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Precision Metal Working. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
How AI-proof is a career in Precision Metal Working?
Precision Metal Working rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 13% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
Is Reid State Technical College a good choice for Precision Metal Working despite lower starting pay?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Precision Metal Working graduates?
Yes — 131 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Precision Metal Working career paths, including Cnc Operator - Milling. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Precision Metal Working workers?
The career paths mapped to Precision Metal Working have roughly 164,200 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →