by our College Data Analytics TeamAre you interested in the field of manufacturing and love to build things? Precision Production could be the field for you. Whether you like working with metal, wood, or leather, this major is for any type of craftsman.
A program in Precision Production will provide students with the technical knowledge and skill to develop products using precision manufacturing and illustration. The two main majors in the field are Precision Metal Working and Woodworking. Some of the courses you can expect to take are drawing digital design course, welding, tool-and-die making, and furniture design. This program is commonly seen as a certification or Associate's degree.
A degree in Precision Production involves the study of Precision Production. Instructional Programs That Prepare Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Create Products Using Techniques Of Precision Craftsmanship Or Technical Illustration. Read on to learn the key facts every precision production student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering precision production programs.
Nationwide, precision production is a popular field of study, with 67,885 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Precision Production Schools ranking analyzes these 987 schools to determine the best overall colleges for precision production students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of precision production programs later in this article.
Studies in Precision Production develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations precision production graduates commonly enter.
Students who go into this field should be comfortable with basic math, geometry and computer skills. You will be constantly measuring items and need to be careful with details. Problem solving skills will help you resolve complications in projects.
Because this is a hands-on job, it requires physical strength and stamina. You will be working on-site, lifting heavy materials and working long hours. Apprenticeships make up part of most of these programs. Students are paired up with professionals in the field to learn while doing.
The skill set emphasized by a precision production program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a precision production major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several precision production 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 | 22,366 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,377 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 36 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 34,125 |
People currently working in careers related to precision production tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 55.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 16.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 15.5% |
| Some college courses | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 1.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.8% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in precision production careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Your career options will be determined by what concentration you chose. Graduates of Precision Metal Working can find jobs as structural iron and steel workers, welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, sheet metal workers, machinist, and tool and die maker. These are professionals who link metal parts and use hand-held welding equipment to fill indentions or holes of metal products.
Woodworking majors become woodworkers, carpenters, construction laborers and helpers, and construction managers. Construction laborers and helpers do basic tasks on the construction site that required physical labor. Theses professionals commonly work fulltime, although bad weather can affect working conditions.
Studying precision production opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to precision production.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to precision production.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Patternmakers, Wood | 968,557 | 14.0% |
| Woodworkers, All Other | 945,993 | 10.0% |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 884,005 | 6.6% |
| Machinists | 826,859 | 1.7% |
| Upholsterers | 799,734 | 3.5% |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 783,409 | 4.6% |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | 769,616 | 4.3% |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 762,661 | 7.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of precision production graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,767 |
| 4 years | $39,423 |
| 5 years | $44,214 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for precision production graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers precision production grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Boilermakers | $84,334 |
| Patternmakers, Wood | $69,107 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | $69,095 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | $67,669 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $67,252 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $67,016 |
| Sheet Metal Workers | $62,339 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | $60,584 |
With 987 different precision production programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased precision production school rankings to help you.
Students interested in precision production, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | 67,063 |
| Woodworking | 659 |
| Precision Production, Other | 95 |
| Leatherworking and Upholstery | 26 |
| Boilermaking/Boilermaker | 25 |
| PRECISION PRODUCTION | 17 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
