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Precision Production

Types of Degrees Precision Production Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Precision Production may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	22,366
Associate’s Degree	5,377
Bachelor’s Degree	36
Master’s Degree	34,125

What Precision Production Majors Need to Know

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

Knowledge Areas

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

• Production and Processing — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Mechanical — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 2.7 / 7.
• Design — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

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

Skills

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

• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Operation and Control — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.
• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.

Abilities

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

• Near Vision — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Control Precision — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Manual Dexterity — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Precision Production graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Controlling Machines and Processes	4.1 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4.0 / 7
Getting Information	4.0 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	3.9 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.8 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.7 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.7 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.7 / 7
Performing General Physical Activities	3.6 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.4 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Precision Production professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Computer aided design CAD software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Dassault Systemes CATIA	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software	Computer aided manufacturing CAM software	✓
Enterprise resource planning ERP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software	Computer aided manufacturing CAM software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Precision Production graduates include:

• Machine Operator
• Patternmaker
• Layout Worker
• Stock Checker
• Wood Carver
• Tip Inserter
• Dyer
• Planer Hand
• Smoking Pipe Maker
• Boat Oar Maker
• Wood Ski Maker
• Hand Carver
• Accordion Maker
• Hat Block Maker
• Manufacturing Operator

Education Typically Required

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

Education Level	Share 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%

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

Who Is Earning a Degree in Precision Production?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 89.1% of Precision Production degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	7,420	10.9%
Men	60,465	89.1%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	38,775	57.1%
Asian	820	1.2%
Hispanic or Latino	15,323	22.6%
Black or African American	6,524	9.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1,159	1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	144	0.2%
Two or More Races	2,383	3.5%
Race Unknown	2,496	3.7%
International Students	261	0.4%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Precision Production Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Precision Production graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$33,767
4 years	$39,423
5 years	$44,214

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $44,214 — roughly 31% above the 1-year mark.

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

Online Precision Production Programs

Fully online options is reported by IPEDS for Precision Production. 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	2	21

^{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 Precision Production Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Precision Production graduates earn a median of $39,423 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.}

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.