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Precision Systems Maintenance

Types of Degrees Precision Systems Maintenance Majors Are Earning

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

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	1,212
Associate’s Degree	1,160
Master’s Degree	554

What Precision Systems Maintenance Majors Need to Know

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

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Precision Systems Maintenance emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Mechanical — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Production and Processing — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.

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

Skills

Skills built by a Precision Systems Maintenance program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.
• Repairing — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.7 / 7.

Abilities

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

• Near Vision — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Visualization — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Precision Systems Maintenance graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.8 / 7
Getting Information	3.7 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	3.6 / 7
Thinking Creatively	3.6 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.6 / 7
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People	3.5 / 7
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment	3.4 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	3.4 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.4 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.4 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Precision Systems Maintenance professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Inventory tracking software	Inventory management software	—
Intuit QuickBooks	Accounting software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Business accounting software	Accounting software	—
Jewelry design software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Gem identification databases	Data base user interface and query software	—
Spectrophotometer analysis software	Analytical or scientific software	—
GemCad	Computer aided design CAD software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Precision Systems Maintenance graduates include:

• Diamond Setter
• Diamond Polisher
• Lapidarist
• Setter
• Girdler
• Pearl Restorer
• Diamond Grader
• Gemologist
• Gem Cutter
• Facetor
• Phonograph Needle Tip Maker
• Dial Maker
• Repair Technician
• Pallet Stone Inserter
• Horologist

Education Typically Required

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

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	47.4%
Postsecondary certificate	22.5%
Bachelor’s degree	7.7%
Some college courses	7.0%
Less than a high school diploma	6.8%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	6.4%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.2%
First professional degree	1.1%

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

Who Is Earning a Degree in Precision Systems Maintenance?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 95.9% of Precision Systems Maintenance degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	119	4.1%
Men	2,807	95.9%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	2,163	73.9%
Asian	39	1.3%
Hispanic or Latino	322	11.0%
Black or African American	137	4.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native	31	1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	12	0.4%
Two or More Races	113	3.9%
Race Unknown	104	3.6%
International Students	5	0.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Precision Systems Maintenance Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Precision Systems Maintenance graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 Precision Systems Maintenance Programs

Online study are documented by IPEDS for Precision Systems Maintenance. 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 Precision Systems Maintenance Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Precision Systems Maintenance 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	Annual Degrees Awarded
Mechanical Repair Technologies	121,176
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General	74,567
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)	23,253
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	9,559
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians	8,925
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other	1,335
Mechanics and Repairers, General	433
Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	178

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.