Precision Metal Working at Great Falls College Montana State University
MT · Associate's Degree · CIP 48.05
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Precision Metal Working degree from Great Falls College Montana State University earn a median salary of $48,487 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $46,577. The degree typically pays for itself in 11.8 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$34,993
Typical Career
$48,487
Top Performers
$64,402
Estimated break-even: 11.8 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$323
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,041. Most students can comfortably afford about a $323 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Montana buys what costs $1.04 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Construction, Finance & Insurance.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$46,577
Nominal: $48,487 in Montana (COL 104.1% of national avg) · 3.9% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $26,315 | $36,191 | $43,483 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $34,993 | $48,487 | $64,402 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $38,279 | $63,346 | $79,550 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $48,487 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MT, which has a cost-of-living index of 104.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $48,487 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0410)
= $46,577 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The majority of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, with 45.9% in this field one year after graduation, followed by 35.1% and 33.2% in subsequent years. This trend suggests a strong alignment between the program and industry demand, enhancing job security for graduates. With an estimated break-even point of approximately 11.8 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing this program appears favorable, particularly given the upward earnings potential in a growing industry.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.