Machinist Apprenticeship in Wisconsin

Wages, programs & career outlook

Machinists set up and operate the lathes, mills, and CNC machines that turn raw metal into precision parts — aerospace components, medical devices, automotive internals. The job mixes shop-floor operation with blueprint reading, CAM programming, and quality inspection.

WI Median Salary
$52,030/yr
-7% vs. national
National Median
$56,150/yr
WI Employment
12,530
Machinists employed
WI Sponsors
74
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
0.0%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
29,500
Nationally, per yr

Machinist Apprenticeship in Wisconsin: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered machinist apprenticeship in Wisconsin combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Wisconsin pay vs. national

Median machinist wages in Wisconsin are $52,030/year, -7% below the national median of $56,150. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Wisconsin has 74 registered apprenticeship sponsors for machinist listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% job growth for machinists nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 29,500 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Wisconsin-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Wisconsin Wage Spread

Annual wages for Machinists in Wisconsin across all experience levels.

10th pct
$37,560
Median
$52,030
90th pct
$71,660
Middle 50% of workers earn $46,670$61,670

Current Machinist Apprenticeship Openings in Wisconsin

No machinist apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Wisconsin. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Machinist Apprenticeship Sponsors in Wisconsin

74 machinist-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Wisconsin. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current machinist apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Baum Machine Inc Appleton Outagamie County
J & J Machine Appleton
Triple E Machine Inc Appleton Outagamie County
Del Tool Company Baraboo Sauk County
Versa Tool And Die Inc. Beloit Rock County
Milwaukee Mold Industries Inc. Big Bend Waukesha County
Swenson Tool and Die Inc Campbellsport
Carlson Tool & Mfg-West Plant Cedarburg Ozaukee County
Microprecision LLC Cudahy
Multi Tool LLC Cudahy Milwaukee County
Heckel Tool & Mfg. Corp. Eagle
Edgerton Gear Inc. Edgerton Rock County
E K Machine Co Inc Fall River Columbia County
Fives Giddings & Lewis LLC Fond Du Lac Fond Du Lac County
Behrens Tool & Die Inc. Germantown Washington County
Bohr Precision Machining Inc. Germantown Washington County
Die-Tech Inc. Germantown
Dynacast Tooling Division Germantown Washington County
GKN Sinter Metals WI Tool & Die Germantown Washington County
Gromax Precision Die & Mfg. Inc. Germantown Washington County
Innovation Mold & Design Inc. Germantown Washington County
Machining Concepts Germantown
Mahuta Tool Corp. Germantown Washington County
Ultra Tool & Manufacturing Inc. Germantown
Mid-Point Machine LLC Glenbeulah Sheboygan County
+ 49 more sponsors in Wisconsin
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Machinist openings

Filter by occupation code 51-4041 and state WI for the most relevant results.

Machinist Apprenticeship in Wisconsin

Prospective Machinist apprentices in Wisconsin have 74 trade-specific registered sponsors to explore — a mix of union locals, contractors, and employer-sponsored programs. Most major metro areas have accessible entry points.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Machinists make in Wisconsin?
The median annual wage for Machinists in Wisconsin is $52,030 as of May 2024. Wages range from $37,560 at the 10th percentile to $71,660 at the 90th percentile.
What is the length of a Machinist apprenticeship program?
Most Machinist apprenticeships run 4 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Machinists?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
Where can I apply for a Machinist apprenticeship in Wisconsin?
Our directory surfaces 74 Machinist-related registered sponsors in Wisconsin. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Machinist apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $26,015/yr in Wisconsin). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Machinists also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare Precision Metal Working programs in Wisconsin →
Or see all 332 programs nationwide.

Machinist in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Wisconsin

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.