Precision Metal Working at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
GA · Certificate Degree · CIP 48.05
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Precision Metal Working degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College earn a median salary of $39,950 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in GA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $44,144. The degree typically pays for itself in 15.9 years.
Quick Insights
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
$30,926
Typical Career
$39,950
Top Performers
$53,343
Estimated break-even: 15.9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$266
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,329. Most students can comfortably afford about a $266 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Georgia buys what costs $0.91 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Public Administration.
Where Certificate Graduates from This School Work
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
$44,144
Nominal: $39,950 in Georgia (COL 90.5% of national avg) · 10.5% higher 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).
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 | $30,926 | $39,731 | $58,363 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $30,926 | $39,950 | $53,343 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $37,935 | $55,464 | $83,086 |
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 $39,950 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in GA, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $39,950 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9050)
= $44,144 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates predominantly lie within Health Care & Social Assistance, with 56.1% of graduates entering this field, followed by 32.6% and 30.7% in similar sectors. The estimated break-even point for pursuing this degree versus a high school-only path is approximately 15.9 years, indicating a long-term return on investment. While initial earnings may not be significantly higher than those of high school graduates, the potential for increased salary over time and the stability of the health care sector may provide a favorable ROI for those entering this career path.
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Other Degrees at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
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.