Precision Systems

Types of Degrees Precision Systems Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many precision systems maintenance graduations there were in 2021-2022 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Associate Degree	1,049
Undergraduate Certificate	836
Basic Certificate	300

What Precision Systems Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to precision systems were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Precision Systems Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Skills for Precision Systems Majors

precision systems majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities for Precision Systems Majors

As a precision systems major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

What Can You Do With a Precision Systems Major?

People with a precision systems degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Geothermal Technicians	8.2%	$39,320
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners	1.2%	$36,330
Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers	1.6%	$57,610

Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Precision Systems?

Precision Systems Maintenance runs middle of the road when it comes to popularity, ranking #29 out of all the trade school majors we track. In 2021, about 914 graduates completed their associate’s degree in this field. This major attracts more men than women. About 96% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of precision systems majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	10
Black or African American	27
Hispanic or Latino	90
White	808
International Students	0
Other Races/Ethnicities	114

How Much Do Precision Systems Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $39,110 to $44,830 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to precision systems. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Precision Systems

Some careers associated with precision systems require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.

Find out what the typical degree level is for precision systems careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	6.9%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	47.8%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	29.7%
Some College Courses	6.8%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	4.4%
Bachelor’s Degree	3.5%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	0.1%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	0.4%

Online Precision Systems Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	23	1
Certificate (2-4 Years)	7	0
Associate’s Degree	27	1
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	0	0
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Precision Systems Worth It?

The median salary for a precision systems grad is $43,570 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 9% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $73,400 after 20 years!

Trades Related to Precision Systems

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to precision systems.

Major	Number of Grads
Vehicle Maintenance & Repair	63,451
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration	21,891
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance	8,446
Electronics Maintenance & Repair	8,127
Mechanic & Repair Tech (Other)	1,184
Mechanics & Repairers	347
Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	110

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Phasmatisnox under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.