by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Gunsmithing/Gunsmith covers Gunsmithing/gunsmith. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Make, Repair, Maintain, And Modify Firearms According To Blueprints Or Customer Specifications, Using Specialized Hand Tools And Machines. Continue reading for the important information every gunsmithing/gunsmith student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering gunsmithing/gunsmith programs.
In the U.S., gunsmithing/gunsmith draws strong interest, with 2,555 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Gunsmithing/Gunsmith Schools ranking analyzes these 18 schools to determine the best overall colleges for gunsmithing/gunsmith students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of gunsmithing/gunsmith programs later in this article.
Programs in Gunsmithing/Gunsmith build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations gunsmithing/gunsmith graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a gunsmithing/gunsmith program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a gunsmithing/gunsmith major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several gunsmithing/gunsmith degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,028 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,114 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 413 |
People currently working in careers related to gunsmithing/gunsmith tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 65.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 20.5% |
| Some college courses | 12.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in gunsmithing/gunsmith careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying gunsmithing/gunsmith prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to gunsmithing/gunsmith.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to gunsmithing/gunsmith.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Geothermal Technicians | 39,974 | 0.1% |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other | 28,851 | 13.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of gunsmithing/gunsmith graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $47,220 |
| 4 years | $39,373 |
| 5 years | $44,868 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for gunsmithing/gunsmith graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers gunsmithing/gunsmith grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Geothermal Technicians | $64,661 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other | $39,581 |
With 18 different gunsmithing/gunsmith programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased gunsmithing/gunsmith school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in gunsmithing/gunsmith, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
