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Precision Metal Working at Helena College University of Montana

MT · Associate's Degree · CIP 48.05

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Precision Metal Working degree from Helena College University of Montana earn a median salary of $55,573 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $53,384. The degree typically pays for itself in 8.7 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

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

$42,631

Typical Career

$55,573

Top Performers

$77,430

Estimated break-even: 8.7 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$370

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,631. Most students can comfortably afford about a $370 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x 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, Public Administration, Retail Trade.

Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 33.2%
Public Administration 18.4%
Retail Trade 7.4%

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

$53,384

Nominal: $55,573 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).

8.7 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

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 $31,244 $43,631 $54,494
5 Years After Graduation $42,631 $55,573 $77,430
10 Years After Graduation $57,124 $77,430 $101,115

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 $55,573 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)
= $55,573 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0410) = $53,384 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates from the Precision Metal Working program at Helena College University of Montana can expect a promising earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $42,539, which increases to $60,837 five years later. However, it is noteworthy that median earnings ten years post-graduation drop to $52,636. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns closely with the national equivalent at approximately $58,440.92, indicating that graduates may experience a competitive earning potential relative to their peers across the country.

In terms of career opportunities, a significant portion of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sectors, comprising 33.2% and 32.9% of the workforce, respectively, while 18.4% find roles in Public Administration. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is around 10.4 years, suggesting a moderate return on investment. Overall, while the program offers a solid foundation for entering key industries, prospective students should weigh the long-term earning potential against the time required to recoup educational costs.

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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.