Precision Metal Working at Ridgewater College
MN · Associate's Degree · CIP 48.05
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Precision Metal Working degree from Ridgewater College earn a median salary of $57,957 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $61,591. The degree typically pays for itself in 9.5 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
$47,901
Typical Career
$57,957
Top Performers
$70,108
Estimated break-even: 9.5 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$386
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,830. Most students can comfortably afford about a $386 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.5x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Minnesota buys what costs $0.94 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Retail Trade.
Where Associate's 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
$61,591
Nominal: $57,957 in Minnesota (COL 94.1% of national avg) · 6.3% 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 | $28,414 | $41,469 | $50,227 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $47,901 | $57,957 | $70,108 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $51,223 | $64,085 | $73,442 |
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 $57,957 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MN, which has a cost-of-living index of 94.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $57,957 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9410)
= $61,591 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program's graduates predominantly enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sectors, with 56.0% of them finding employment in this field. This trend continues with substantial percentages in similar roles, suggesting a strong demand for skills acquired in the program. With an estimated break-even point of approximately 9.5 years compared to a high-school-only path, the overall return on investment for students pursuing this career appears favorable, especially given the potential for growth in earnings over time.
Compare with Another School
See how the Precision Metal Working degree at Ridgewater College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Precision Metal Working at Ridgewater College.
Other Degrees at Ridgewater 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.