Which state pays welding and machining certificate graduates the most?

Minnesota, where the median program pays its graduates $49,342 in their first year, the highest of 10 state rankings. Wisconsin is next, at $41,852.

Which welding and machining certificate program pays the most?

Ferris State in Michigan reports the highest first-year pay of the 254 programs ranked here, $68,852. Its median federal debt is $21,765.

How much debt do welding and machining certificate graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $8,447 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 22% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Welding and Machining (Certificate) Programs in the US

263 programs report first-year pay
10 state rankings
Certificate in Precision Metal Working

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median welding and machining certificate program in the US pays its graduates $36,283 in their first year and $45,062 five years after. Minnesota has the highest state median ($49,342), and Louisiana the lowest ($25,735). The median program leaves its graduates with $8,447 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$36,283Across 263 programs

Median pay after 5 years$45,062Across 252 programs

Median federal debt$8,447Across 148 programs

Debt-to-earnings22%Across 141 programs

All 254 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Ferris StateBig Rapids, MI · public	$68,852	$71,559	$78,109	$21,765	32%
2	Idaho StatePocatello, ID · public	$64,581	$67,628	$74,275	$9,000	14%
3	Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeBowling Green, KY · public	$58,996	$65,436	Not reported	$9,413	16%
4	Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton, WI · public	$53,507	$56,865	$58,589	$7,664	14%
5	Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtown, KY · public	$53,172	$58,976	Not reported	$7,166	13%
6	White Mountains Community CollegeBerlin, NH · public	$53,066	$50,944	$38,984	$9,625	18%
7	Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park, MN · public	$52,456	$53,189	$59,492	$9,329	18%
8	Alexandria Technical & Community CollegeAlexandria, MN · public	$51,141	$51,856	$60,991	$9,500	19%
9	Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul, MN · public	$50,842	$51,553	$60,060	$9,928	20%
10	Dakota County Technical CollegeRosemount, MN · public	$50,464	$51,170	$52,690	$5,500	11%
11	York Technical CollegeRock Hill, SC · public	$50,309	$53,664	$50,052	$11,250	22%
12	St Cloud Technical and Community CollegeSaint Cloud, MN · public	$49,636	$50,330	$64,258	$9,500	19%
13	Anoka Technical CollegeAnoka, MN · public	$49,632	$50,326	$56,646	$8,692	18%
14	Minnesota State College SoutheastWinona, MN · public	$49,342	$50,032	$52,462	$12,500	25%
15	Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire, WI · public	$48,638	$51,690	$57,152	$8,109	17%
16	Lakeshore Technical CollegeCleveland, WI · public	$48,619	$51,670	$48,783	Not reported	Not reported
17	Amarillo CollegeAmarillo, TX · public	$48,263	$49,726	$65,178	Not reported	Not reported
18	Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau, WI · public	$47,718	$50,713	$50,958	$5,250	11%
19	Aims Community CollegeGreeley, CO · public	$47,680	$46,268	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
20	Midlands Technical CollegeWest Columbia, SC · public	$47,556	$50,727	Not reported	$10,500	22%
21	Welder Training and Testing InstituteAllentown, PA · private for-profit	$47,528	$48,711	$42,160	$9,500	20%
22	Arkansas Northeastern CollegeBlytheville, AR · public	$47,110	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
23	Lively Technical CollegeTallahassee, FL · public	$46,499	$44,964	$42,893	Not reported	Not reported
24	Lancaster County Career and Technology CenterWillow Street, PA · public	$46,331	$47,484	$45,580	$9,500	21%
25	Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeLexington, KY · public	$46,133	$51,168	Not reported	$10,684	23%
26	Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown, IA · public	$45,972	$52,383	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
27	Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, CA · public	$45,864	$41,423	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
28	Lynnes Welding TrainingFargo, ND · private for-profit	$45,833	$51,521	$41,856	$3,700	8%
29	Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo, IA · public	$45,509	$51,855	$55,933	$7,874	17%
30	North Georgia Technical CollegeClarkesville, GA · public	$45,472	$47,223	$51,490	Not reported	Not reported
31	Bevill State Community CollegeJasper, AL · public	$45,423	$51,139	$46,654	Not reported	Not reported
32	Hobart Institute of Welding TechnologyTroy, OH · private nonprofit	$45,370	$48,904	$53,731	$5,500	12%
33	Owensboro Community and Technical CollegeOwensboro, KY · public	$45,366	$50,318	Not reported	$7,475	16%
34	Davis Technical CollegeKaysville, UT · public	$45,350	$45,871	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
35	Ranken Technical CollegeSaint Louis, MO · private nonprofit	$45,004	$49,555	$55,037	$9,500	21%
36	Emily Griffith Technical CollegeDenver, CO · public	$44,943	$43,612	Not reported	$8,125	18%
37	Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville, WI · public	$44,698	Not adjusted	$51,844	Not reported	Not reported
38	Western Dakota Technical CollegeRapid City, SD · public	$44,614	Not adjusted	$40,835	$9,125	20%
39	Dunwoody College of TechnologyMinneapolis, MN · private nonprofit	$44,559	$45,182	$58,679	$6,333	14%
40	Ridgewater CollegeWillmar, MN · public	$44,421	$45,042	$58,734	$9,750	22%
41	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksonJackson, TN · public	$43,864	$47,746	$47,215	Not reported	Not reported
42	Advanced Technology InstituteVirginia Beach, VA · private for-profit	$43,656	$43,179	$38,446	$12,674	29%
43	Lake Superior CollegeDuluth, MN · public	$43,610	$44,220	$59,897	$13,350	31%
44	Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar, IA · public	$43,588	$49,666	$55,764	$5,479	13%
45	Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee, WI · public	$43,380	$46,102	$58,874	$9,500	22%
46	Modern Welding SchoolSchenectady, NY · private for-profit	$43,246	$40,072	$47,343	$6,790	16%
47	School of Automotive Machinists & TechnologyHouston, TX · private for-profit	$43,065	$44,371	$47,651	$16,354	38%
48	Coastal Pines Technical CollegeWaycross, GA · public	$43,040	$44,697	$48,942	Not reported	Not reported
49	Minnesota West Community and Technical CollegeGranite Falls, MN · public	$42,830	$43,429	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
50	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MurfreesboroMurfreesboro, TN · public	$42,688	$46,466	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
51	Butler Technology and Career Development SchoolsMonroe, OH · public	$42,625	$45,945	Not reported	$6,327	15%
52	San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena, TX · public	$42,512	$43,801	$42,311	Not reported	Not reported
53	Advanced Welding InstituteSouth Burlington, VT · private for-profit · closed	$42,399	Not adjusted	$47,605	$5,077	12%
54	Northwood Technical CollegeRice Lake, WI · public	$42,282	$44,935	$51,373	$5,500	13%
55	Gateway Community and Technical CollegeFlorence, KY · public	$42,233	$46,843	Not reported	$9,041	21%
56	Mountainland Technical CollegeLehi, UT · public	$42,032	$42,515	$49,316	Not reported	Not reported
57	Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN · public	$41,767	$44,752	$54,333	$6,387	15%
58	Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA · public	$41,613	$47,416	Not reported	$7,910	19%
59	Savannah Technical CollegeSavannah, GA · public	$41,604	$43,206	$44,468	Not reported	Not reported
60	Manatee Technical CollegeBradenton, FL · public	$41,602	$40,229	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
61	South Central CollegeNorth Mankato, MN · public	$41,527	$42,108	$52,960	$3,666	9%
62	Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth, FL · public	$41,518	$40,147	$50,639	Not reported	Not reported
63	Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeGreen Bay, WI · public	$41,421	$44,020	$54,860	$5,500	13%
64	Somerset Community CollegeSomerset, KY · public	$41,415	$45,936	Not reported	$8,439	20%
65	Connecticut State Community CollegeNew Britain, CT · public	$41,378	$39,936	$53,598	Not reported	Not reported
66	Perry Technical InstituteYakima, WA · private nonprofit	$41,301	$38,594	$47,070	$8,390	20%
67	Great Oaks Career CampusesCincinnati, OH · public	$41,277	$44,492	$40,878	$6,078	15%
68	Gadsden State Community CollegeGadsden, AL · public	$41,252	$46,443	$42,143	Not reported	Not reported
69	Moraine Park Technical CollegeFond du Lac, WI · public	$41,073	$43,651	$52,016	$7,000	17%
70	Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands, TX · public	$40,863	$42,102	$31,599	$4,562	11%
71	Pinellas Technical College-ClearwaterClearwater, FL · public	$40,795	$39,448	$49,761	Not reported	Not reported
72	Central Lakes College-BrainerdBrainerd, MN · public	$40,671	$41,240	$59,736	$5,500	14%
73	Western Technical College (Wisconsin)La Crosse, WI · public	$40,624	$43,173	$51,221	$5,500	14%
74	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ShelbyvilleShelbyville, TN · public	$40,605	$44,198	$55,781	Not reported	Not reported
75	Gwinnett Technical CollegeLawrenceville, GA · public	$40,124	$41,669	$45,379	Not reported	Not reported
76	Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville, NC · public	$39,990	$42,396	Not reported	$11,000	28%
76	Fortis College-Cuyahoga FallsCuyahoga Falls, OH · private for-profit	$39,990	$43,105	$39,907	Not reported	Not reported
78	Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCESLiverpool, NY · public	$39,730	$36,814	$47,169	$8,326	21%
79	Washburn UniversityTopeka, KS · public	$39,720	$44,100	$42,628	$6,642	17%
80	Ogden-Weber Technical CollegeOgden, UT · public	$39,699	$40,155	$53,100	Not reported	Not reported
81	Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga, TN · public	$39,664	$43,174	$45,429	$4,611	12%
82	Fab SchoolRancho Cucamonga, CA · private for-profit	$39,592	$35,759	$45,701	$4,449	11%
83	Orange Technical College-South CampusOrlando, FL · public	$39,539	$38,234	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
84	Lincoln Technical Institute-New BritainNew Britain, CT · private for-profit	$39,408	$38,035	$48,123	$11,597	29%
85	Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA · public	$39,397	$44,891	$52,978	$5,500	14%
86	Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical SchoolsGroveport, OH · public	$39,328	$42,391	$49,765	$6,485	16%
87	College of Western IdahoNampa, ID · public	$39,310	$41,165	$47,339	$7,000	18%
88	Laurel Technical Institute (Hermitage, Pennsylvania)Hermitage, PA · private for-profit	$39,287	Not adjusted	$30,910	Not reported	Not reported
89	Brightpoint Community CollegeChester, VA · public	$39,273	$38,844	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
90	Austin Community College DistrictAustin, TX · public	$39,261	$40,451	$49,732	$15,818	40%
91	Universal Technical Institute of TexasHouston, TX · private for-profit	$39,141	$40,328	Not reported	$6,855	18%
92	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN · public	$39,054	$42,510	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
93	Gordon Cooper Technology CenterShawnee, OK · public	$39,018	$44,418	$42,383	Not reported	Not reported
94	Alaska Vocational Technical CenterSeward, AK · public	$38,973	$38,075	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
95	Kennebec Valley Community CollegeFairfield, ME · public	$38,884	$40,066	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
96	Marion Technical College (Florida)Ocala, FL · public	$38,846	$37,564	$34,873	Not reported	Not reported
97	Elite Welding AcademyCincinnati, OH · private for-profit	$38,717	$41,733	$52,408	$9,500	25%
98	Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking CountyNewark, OH · public	$38,709	$41,724	$52,266	$5,500	14%
99	Oconee Fall Line Technical CollegeSandersville, GA · public	$38,673	$40,162	$47,260	Not reported	Not reported
100	Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha, WI · public	$38,659	$41,085	$45,723	$9,700	25%
101	Mid-State Technical CollegeWisconsin Rapids, WI · public	$38,653	$41,079	$48,741	$4,750	12%
102	Warren County Career CenterLebanon, OH · public	$38,389	$41,379	$46,301	Not reported	Not reported
103	Northeast Community CollegeNorfolk, NE · public	$38,353	$42,566	$54,402	$5,500	14%
104	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-PulaskiPulaski, TN · public	$38,268	$41,655	$46,690	Not reported	Not reported
105	All-State Career SchoolEssington, PA · private for-profit	$38,191	$39,141	$40,615	$13,000	34%
106	Spartanburg Community CollegeSpartanburg, SC · public	$38,147	$40,691	$38,887	Not reported	Not reported
107	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MorristownMorristown, TN · public	$38,096	$41,467	$43,376	Not reported	Not reported
108	Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeRome, GA · public	$38,002	$39,465	$45,040	Not reported	Not reported
109	Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison, WI · public	$37,860	$40,236	$52,292	$9,500	25%
110	Universal Technical Institute of ArizonaAvondale, AZ · private for-profit	$37,568	$37,315	Not reported	$10,593	28%
111	Summit CollegeSan Bernardino, CA · private for-profit	$37,502	$33,871	$50,401	$7,600	20%
112	Erwin Technical CollegeTampa, FL · public	$37,492	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
113	Central Virginia Community CollegeLynchburg, VA · public	$37,281	$36,874	Not reported	$8,625	23%
114	Lincoln College of Technology-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · private for-profit	$37,249	$39,911	$48,015	$9,429	25%
115	Johnson CollegeScranton, PA · private nonprofit	$37,243	$38,170	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
116	Lewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfrey, IL · public	$37,195	$37,211	$37,349	Not reported	Not reported
117	Eastern Wyoming CollegeTorrington, WY · public	$37,127	$40,055	$56,989	$6,951	19%
118	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville, NC · public	$37,078	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
119	Northwest Florida State CollegeNiceville, FL · public	$37,052	$35,829	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
120	Patrick & Henry Community CollegeMartinsville, VA · public	$37,030	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
121	Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown, NC · public	$36,930	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
122	Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · public	$36,908	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
123	George C Wallace Community College-DothanDothan, AL · public	$36,834	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
124	Ashland Community and Technical CollegeAshland, KY · public	$36,796	$40,812	$48,022	$5,500	15%
125	Flint Hills Technical CollegeEmporia, KS · public	$36,731	$40,781	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
126	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-AtlantaDuluth, GA · private for-profit	$36,678	$38,090	$39,694	$14,750	40%
127	Maysville Community and Technical CollegeMaysville, KY · public	$36,394	$40,366	$34,833	$9,820	27%
128	Northwest Mississippi Community CollegeSenatobia, MS · public	$36,303	$41,750	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
129	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HartsvilleHartsville, TN · public	$36,283	$39,494	$45,406	Not reported	Not reported
130	Kansas City Kansas Community CollegeKansas City, KS · public	$36,248	$40,245	$48,483	Not reported	Not reported
131	Lawson State Community CollegeBirmingham, AL · public	$35,941	$40,464	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
132	TCAT AthensAthens, TN · public	$35,913	$39,091	$50,465	Not reported	Not reported
133	Southwest Technical CollegeCedar City, UT · public	$35,838	$36,250	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
134	Refrigeration SchoolPhoenix, AZ · private for-profit	$35,808	$35,567	Not reported	$7,917	22%
135	Texas State Technical CollegeWaco, TX · public	$35,720	$36,803	$43,861	$8,641	24%
136	West Kentucky Community and Technical CollegePaducah, KY · public	$35,603	$39,489	$47,139	$8,250	23%
137	Ogeechee Technical CollegeStatesboro, GA · public	$35,416	$36,779	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
138	East Mississippi Community CollegeScooba, MS · public	$35,345	$40,648	$45,084	$5,500	16%
139	Spokane Community CollegeSpokane, WA · public	$35,309	$32,995	Not reported	$9,500	27%
140	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper CumberlandCrossville, TN · public	$35,288	$38,411	$36,895	Not reported	Not reported
141	North American Trade SchoolsBaltimore, MD · private for-profit	$35,239	$33,574	$44,563	$8,549	24%
142	Institute of Technology (California)Clovis, CA · private for-profit	$35,194	$31,786	Not reported	$9,703	28%
143	Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeFennimore, WI · public	$35,167	$37,374	$52,227	$5,500	16%
144	Dallas CollegeDallas, TX · public	$35,102	$36,166	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
145	Itawamba Community CollegeFulton, MS · public	$35,061	$40,322	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
146	Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeFlorence, SC · public	$34,948	$37,278	$37,586	$7,230	21%
147	Piedmont Technical CollegeGreenwood, SC · public	$34,928	$37,257	$45,568	$11,625	33%
148	ArclabsPiedmont, SC · private for-profit	$34,843	$37,166	Not reported	$9,500	27%
149	Greenville Technical CollegeGreenville, SC · public	$34,761	Not adjusted	$48,205	$10,279	30%
150	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MemphisMemphis, TN · public	$34,750	$37,825	$28,474	Not reported	Not reported
151	Tennessee College of Applied Technology NorthwestNewbern, TN · public	$34,728	$37,801	$43,540	Not reported	Not reported
152	Tennessee College of Applied Technology NashvilleNashville, TN · public	$34,295	$37,330	$38,460	Not reported	Not reported
153	Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield, NC · public	$34,171	$36,226	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
154	Front Range Community CollegeWestminster, CO · public	$34,125	$33,114	$55,969	$8,347	24%
155	Delta CollegeUniversity Center, MI · public	$34,112	$35,453	$39,721	Not reported	Not reported
156	Manhattan Area Technical CollegeManhattan, KS · public	$34,077	$37,835	Not reported	$8,250	24%
157	Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids, MI · public	$34,042	$35,380	$40,830	$4,540	13%
158	Lake Technical CollegeEustis, FL · public	$33,687	$32,575	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
159	Universal Technical Institute-CantonCanton, MI · private for-profit	$33,636	$34,958	Not reported	$11,790	35%
160	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnvilleMcMinnville, TN · public	$33,353	$36,305	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
161	Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield, IL · public	$33,298	$33,312	$21,895	Not reported	Not reported
162	Arkansas Welding AcademyJacksonville, AR · private for-profit	$33,187	$38,174	Not reported	$7,933	24%
163	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksboroJacksboro, TN · public	$33,008	$35,929	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
164	Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeConway, SC · public	$33,002	$35,203	Not reported	$5,875	18%
165	East Valley Institute of TechnologyMesa, AZ · public	$32,985	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
166	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ElizabethtonElizabethton, TN · public	$32,920	$35,833	$39,132	Not reported	Not reported
167	CET-San JoseSan Jose, CA · private nonprofit	$32,817	$29,640	$40,269	$8,424	26%
167	Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MO · public	$32,817	$36,135	$40,703	$4,737	14%
169	Lurleen B Wallace Community CollegeAndalusia, AL · public	$32,714	$36,831	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
170	Delgado Community CollegeNew Orleans, LA · public	$32,636	Not adjusted	Not reported	$18,137	56%
171	Augusta Technical CollegeAugusta, GA · public	$32,352	$33,597	$36,820	Not reported	Not reported
172	Tidewater Tech-TradesNorfolk, VA · private for-profit	$32,269	$31,917	$41,946	$9,500	29%
173	Polaris Career CenterMiddleburg Heights, OH · public	$32,228	$34,738	$41,199	Not reported	Not reported
174	Charter CollegeAnchorage, AK · private for-profit	$32,204	$31,462	$43,094	$15,363	48%
175	Central Carolina Technical CollegeSumter, SC · public	$32,196	$34,343	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
176	Ohio Technical CollegeCleveland, OH · private for-profit	$32,154	$34,658	$45,912	$13,000	40%
177	Rosedale Technical CollegePittsburgh, PA · private nonprofit	$32,034	$32,831	Not reported	$11,113	35%
178	Meridian Community CollegeMeridian, MS · public	$31,988	$36,788	$46,339	Not reported	Not reported
179	Fortis Institute-TowsonTowson, MD · private for-profit	$31,899	$30,392	$34,564	$13,000	41%
180	Tulsa Welding School-TulsaTulsa, OK · private for-profit	$31,821	$36,225	$42,714	$9,500	30%
181	South Plains CollegeLevelland, TX · public	$31,733	$32,695	$42,566	Not reported	Not reported
182	Tennessee College of Applied Technology CrumpCrump, TN · public	$31,731	$34,539	$41,336	Not reported	Not reported
183	Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville, IL · public	$31,692	$31,705	$44,590	$6,500	21%
184	Midwest Technical Institute-IllinoisSpringfield, IL · private for-profit	$31,630	$31,643	$38,902	$9,500	30%
185	Tom P. Haney Technical CollegePanama City, FL · public	$31,480	$30,441	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
186	Daytona State CollegeDaytona Beach, FL · public	$31,448	$30,410	$45,905	Not reported	Not reported
187	M T Training CenterDesoto, TX · private for-profit	$31,420	$32,373	$36,334	$10,474	33%
188	Advanced Career InstituteVisalia, CA · private for-profit	$31,401	$28,361	$35,164	$8,023	26%
189	Richmond Community CollegeHamlet, NC · public	$31,268	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
190	George C Wallace State Community College-SelmaSelma, AL · public	$31,092	$35,004	$39,997	Not reported	Not reported
191	University of Arkansas at MonticelloMonticello, AR · public	$31,083	$35,753	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
192	ETI School of Skilled TradesWillowbrook, IL · private for-profit	$31,068	$31,081	$41,841	$9,500	31%
193	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HohenwaldHohenwald, TN · public	$30,997	$33,740	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
194	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-HarrimanHarriman, TN · public	$30,924	$33,661	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
195	Illinois Eastern Community CollegesOlney, IL · public	$30,893	$30,906	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
196	Apex Technical SchoolLong Island City, NY · private nonprofit	$30,807	$28,546	$40,823	$9,500	31%
196	Stautzenberger College-MaumeeMaumee, OH · private for-profit	$30,807	$33,207	Not reported	$13,000	42%
198	Bishop State Community CollegeMobile, AL · public	$30,688	$34,550	$29,502	Not reported	Not reported
199	Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeCumberland, KY · public	$30,566	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
200	Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and TechnologyWichita, KS · public	$30,515	$33,880	$42,129	$5,564	18%
201	NUC UniversityBayamon, PR · private for-profit	$30,278	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
202	Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN · private for-profit	$30,105	$32,769	$40,658	$13,000	43%
203	Community Care CollegeTulsa, OK · private nonprofit	$29,721	$33,834	$37,003	$12,662	43%
204	New Castle School of TradesNew Castle, PA · private for-profit	$29,655	Not adjusted	$42,047	$9,378	32%
205	Western Technical College (Texas)El Paso, TX · private for-profit	$29,371	$30,262	$41,365	$17,372	59%
206	Northeast Technology CenterPryor, OK · public	$29,365	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
207	Central Georgia Technical CollegeWarner Robins, GA · public	$29,107	$30,228	$32,887	$4,997	17%
208	Tulsa Technology CenterTulsa, OK · public	$28,983	$32,994	$43,405	Not reported	Not reported
209	All-State Career-BaltimoreBaltimore, MD · private for-profit	$28,893	$27,528	$36,962	$12,999	45%
210	Lanier Technical CollegeGainesville, GA · public	$28,890	$30,002	$45,249	Not reported	Not reported
211	Paris Junior CollegeParis, TX · public	$28,729	$29,600	$32,607	Not reported	Not reported
212	Wharton County Junior CollegeWharton, TX · public	$28,408	$29,269	$44,284	Not reported	Not reported
213	Greater Johnstown Career and Technology CenterJohnstown, PA · public	$27,897	$28,591	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
214	Lake Land CollegeMattoon, IL · public	$27,808	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
215	Texarkana CollegeTexarkana, TX · public	$27,807	$28,650	$45,640	$9,450	34%
216	Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA · public	$27,761	$31,632	Not reported	$5,500	20%
217	Houston City CollegeHouston, TX · public	$27,696	$28,536	$39,000	$10,022	36%
218	Merced CollegeMerced, CA · public	$27,541	$24,874	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
219	Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge, IA · public	$27,404	$31,225	$44,065	Not reported	Not reported
220	ETI Technical College of NilesNiles, OH · private for-profit	$27,290	$29,416	Not reported	$12,255	45%
221	Florida Gateway CollegeLake City, FL · public	$26,950	$26,060	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
222	Hohokus School of Trade and Technical SciencesPaterson, NJ · private for-profit	$26,736	$24,572	$48,848	$7,600	28%
223	University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical CollegeNorth Little Rock, AR · public	$26,579	$30,573	Not reported	$4,142	16%
224	Louisiana Delta Community CollegeMonroe, LA · public	$26,069	$29,554	$30,194	$7,916	30%
225	Southern Arkansas University TechCamden, AR · public	$26,001	$29,908	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
226	Pueblo Community CollegePueblo, CO · public	$25,970	$25,201	$40,722	$6,625	26%
227	Colegio Mayor de TecnologiaArroyo, PR · private for-profit	$25,965	Not adjusted	$32,821	Not reported	Not reported
228	Erie Institute of TechnologyErie, PA · private for-profit	$25,942	$26,588	$42,539	$9,500	37%
229	Northshore Technical Community CollegeLacombe, LA · public	$25,818	$29,270	Not reported	$10,500	41%
230	Compass Career CollegeHammond, LA · private for-profit	$25,735	$29,176	Not reported	$7,790	30%
231	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/CarrollParis, TN · public	$25,713	$27,988	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
232	South Louisiana Community CollegeLafayette, LA · public	$25,471	$28,876	$41,830	$6,125	24%
233	Ridge Technical CollegeWinter Haven, FL · public	$25,228	$24,395	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
234	Southern Careers Institute-AustinAustin, TX · private for-profit	$25,077	$25,837	$32,672	$7,125	28%
235	Laredo CollegeLaredo, TX · public	$24,836	$25,589	$23,792	Not reported	Not reported
236	Reid State Technical CollegeEvergreen, AL · public	$24,349	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
237	Hillsborough CollegeTampa, FL · public	$24,327	$23,524	Not reported	$5,500	23%
238	South Texas CollegeMcAllen, TX · public	$24,265	$25,001	$42,369	Not reported	Not reported
239	Baton Rouge Community CollegeBaton Rouge, LA · public	$24,025	$27,237	$45,151	$13,000	54%
240	Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlesterMcAlester, OK · public	$24,017	$27,341	$29,796	Not reported	Not reported
241	Tidewater Community CollegeNorfolk, VA · public	$23,785	$23,525	$42,294	$8,455	36%
242	Indian Capital Technology Center-MuskogeeMuskogee, OK · public	$23,518	$26,773	$46,564	Not reported	Not reported
243	Northwest Louisiana Technical Community CollegeMinden, LA · public	$23,313	$26,430	$34,656	Not reported	Not reported
244	Withlacoochee Technical CollegeInverness, FL · public	$23,156	$22,392	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
245	Virginia Western Community CollegeRoanoke, VA · public	$22,788	$22,539	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
246	Hinds Community CollegeRaymond, MS · public	$22,434	$25,800	$35,889	$5,500	25%
247	Cossatot Community College of the University of ArkansasDe Queen, AR · public	$22,341	$25,698	$44,277	Not reported	Not reported
248	McAllen Careers InstituteMcAllen, TX · private for-profit	$22,029	$22,697	Not reported	$9,500	43%
249	Pinellas Technical College-St. PetersburgSaint Petersburg, FL · public	$21,958	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
250	Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAbingdon, VA · public	$21,472	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
251	Academia SerrantPonce, PR · private for-profit	$19,157	Not adjusted	$22,212	Not reported	Not reported
252	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-LivingstonLivingston, TN · public	$18,706	$20,361	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
253	Southwest Texas CollegeUvalde, TX · public	$16,469	$16,968	$40,790	Not reported	Not reported
254	Philadelphia Technician TrainingPhiladelphia, PA · private nonprofit	$15,982	$16,380	$27,840	$9,500	59%

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 229 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 25, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

118 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay. One of these schools has since closed.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked. 9 more programs report pay but aren't listed, because College Scorecard's school file doesn't name their schools. The national medians above still count them.

Welding and Machining (Certificate) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's welding and machining certificate programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Minnesota	13	$49,342	$9,415
2	Wisconsin	14	$41,852	$7,000
3	Kentucky	10	$41,824	$8,345
4	Iowa	7	$41,613	$5,500
5	Ohio	12	$38,713	$6,485
6	California	7	$35,194	$8,023
7	South Carolina	9	$34,928	$10,279
8	Pennsylvania	10	$34,639	$9,500
9	Texas	20	$30,396	$9,500
10	Louisiana	7	$25,735	$9,208

Programs in 32 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

South Central College, MN$3,666
Fab School, CA$4,449
Lone Star College System, TX$4,562
Mid-State Technical College, WI$4,750
Northcentral Technical College, WI$5,250
Northeast Iowa Community College, IA$5,479
Dakota County Technical College, MN$5,500
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, OH$5,500
Northwood Technical College, WI$5,500
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, WI$5,500

Lowest debt for the pay

South Central College, MN9%
Dakota County Technical College, MN11%
Northcentral Technical College, WI11%
Lone Star College System, TX11%
Fab School, CA11%
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, OH12%
Mid-State Technical College, WI12%
Northeast Iowa Community College, IA13%
Northwood Technical College, WI13%
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, WI13%

Only the 83 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to welding and machining, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

$53,750

Median pay in the US. 416,210 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 40,300 openings a year. Typical education to start: high school diploma or equivalent.

Bottom 10%: $39,240Top 10%: $77,530

Machinists

$58,750

Median pay in the US. 287,050 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 26,100 openings a year. Typical education to start: high school diploma or equivalent.

Bottom 10%: $39,200Top 10%: $80,010

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

$46,330

Median pay in the US. 171,200 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to shrink 11% from 2025 to 2035, with about 13,200 openings a year. Typical education to start: high school diploma or equivalent.

Bottom 10%: $35,760Top 10%: $65,510

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

$50,690

Median pay in the US. 169,450 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to shrink 9% from 2025 to 2035, with about 12,500 openings a year. Typical education to start: high school diploma or equivalent.

Bottom 10%: $38,140Top 10%: $73,890

Common questions

The median welding and machining certificate program in the US pays its graduates $36,283 in their first year and $45,062 five years after.

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024