Machinist Apprenticeship in Wisconsin

The $52,030 median for Wisconsin Machinists tracks close to the national all-occupation average. The value here is in the apprenticeship model: earn while you learn, graduate debt-free.

The $52,030 median trails the national average by 7%. Wisconsin is a below-average market for Machinist wages, though placement rates and union presence matter as much as raw pay.

The trade is projected to contract by 0.0% through 2034, but retirements still generate 29,500 openings per year. Skilled Machinists in the right geographic markets will find work.

Wisconsin employs 12,530 Machinists, accounting for 3.7% of the national workforce — a mid-sized market with enough employer density to support active apprenticeship placement.

Becoming a Machinist through apprenticeship takes roughly 4 years — 8,000 hours split between on-the-job training and classroom study covering precision measurement, CNC operations, and metallurgy. Wages start at a fraction of journeyman rate and increase on a set schedule.

Finding a Machinist apprenticeship in Wisconsin starts with a broad search — 1,308 organizations sponsor registered programs. Community colleges, trade unions, and independent employers all participate.

From $37,560 at the 10th percentile to $71,660 at the 90th, Machinist wages in Wisconsin are fairly compressed. Flat wage structures are common in heavily unionized trades where pay scales are negotiated collectively.