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Students training in a machinist program

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CNC & machining programs in Alabama

Alabama has 5 accredited campuses awarding machinist credentials. If you finish and work as a machinist in Alabama, expect to start around $37,770–$46,340 and reach a median of $55,560 with experience; the top quarter earn $66,190 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, Alabama). Graduates of these Alabama programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of not reported in their first year, against $36,340 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.

What machinists earn in Alabama

$37,770starting (10th percentile)
$46,340early career (25th)
$55,560median, all experience
$66,190experienced (75th)
$79,380top earners (90th)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 5,170 employed in Alabama. National median: $58,750.

Campuses in Alabama, ranked by what their graduates earned

5campuses in Alabama
112credentials awarded / yr
not reportedmedian earnings, yr 1 (Alabama)
$36,340median earnings, yr 1 (U.S.)

Cities: Alexander CityHancevilleMuscle ShoalsTuscaloosaWadley

CampusCityTypeGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Program debtCompletionCost / yr
Southern Union State Community College Wadley Public 37 not reported not reported 36% not reported
Shelton State Community College Tuscaloosa Public 25 not reported not reported 30% not reported
Central Alabama Community College Alexander City Public 24 not reported not reported 33% not reported
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville Hanceville Public 16 not reported not reported 51% not reported
Northwest Shoals Community College Muscle Shoals Public 10 not reported not reported 39% not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Ranked by median earnings of this program's graduates one year after completion (College Scorecard field-of-study, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026); campuses without a reported figure follow, by credentials awarded. "Program debt" is the median federal loan debt for graduates of this program at this campus. Completion is the campus-wide 150%-of-time rate. "Not reported" means the federal file suppresses the value for privacy.

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