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Gunsmithing

Types of Degrees Gunsmithing Majors Are Earning

Those studying Gunsmithing can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	1,028
Associate’s Degree	1,114
Master’s Degree	413

What Gunsmithing Majors Need to Know

Programs in Gunsmithing develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Gunsmithing graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Gunsmithing emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mechanical — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Physics — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Public Safety and Security — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Gunsmithing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Troubleshooting — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Operation and Control — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Gunsmithing careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Perceptual Speed — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Gunsmithing graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.3 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	4.3 / 7
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment	4.2 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	4.2 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.0 / 7
Performing General Physical Activities	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Gunsmithing professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Thermal Dynamics Ground Loop Design GLD	Analytical or scientific software	—
Distributed control system DCS	Industrial control software	—
Geothermal Properties Measurement Tool	Analytical or scientific software	—
WaterFurnace International Ground Loop Design PREMIER	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Geographic information system GIS systems	Geographic information system	—
ClimateMaster GeoDesigner	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Gunsmithing graduates include:

• I C and E Technician (Instrumentation, Control, and Electrical Technician)
• Geothermal Field Technician
• I and E Technician (Instrumentation and Electrical Technician)
• Plant Electrical Technician
• Switchgear Operator
• Geothermal HVAC Technician (Geothermal Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Technician)
• Ground Source Heat Pump Technician (GSHP Technician)
• Distribution Field Technician
• I and C Technician (Instrument and Controls Technician)
• Plant Mechanic
• Geothermal Technician
• Operator Technician
• Geothermal Service Technician
• Field Distribution Technician
• Operations Technician

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Gunsmithing graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share 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%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Gunsmithing?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 98% of Gunsmithing degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	51	2.0%
Men	2,504	98.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Gunsmithing graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	1,899	74.3%
Asian	25	1.0%
Hispanic or Latino	286	11.2%
Black or African American	113	4.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native	27	1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	12	0.5%
Two or More Races	106	4.1%
Race Unknown	84	3.3%
International Students	3	0.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Gunsmithing Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Gunsmithing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$47,220
4 years	$39,373
5 years	$44,868

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $44,868 — roughly -5% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Gunsmithing Programs

Online study is tracked by IPEDS for Gunsmithing. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	1	0

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Gunsmithing Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Gunsmithing graduates earn a median of $39,373 four years after completion — roughly 4% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	47.04
Locksmithing and Safe Repair	47.0403
Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair	47.0404
Parts and Warehousing Operations and Maintenance Technology/Technician	47.0409
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other	47.0499
Watchmaking and Jewelrymaking	47.0408
Electrical/Electronics Equipment Installation and Repair Technology/Technician, General	47.0101
Energy Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician	47.0701
Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other	47.0799
Geothermal Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician	47.0706
Hydroelectric Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician	47.0705
Mechanics and Repairers, General	47.0000

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.