Outdated or Unsupported Browser Detected
DWD's website uses the latest technology. This makes our site faster and easier to use across all devices. Unfortunatley, your browser is out of date and is not supported. An update is not required, but it is strongly recommended to improve your browsing experience. To update Internet Explorer to Microsoft Edge visit their website.
Careers in the manufacturing cluster involve Planning, managing, and processing materials into intermediate and final products and related professional and technical support activities, including production, planning, control, maintenance, manufacturing, and process engineering
Each tab below includes a list of common career options based on the typical level of education each occupation requires.
The Registered Apprenticeship tab provides links to Wisconsin Registered Apprenticeship opportunities available within the career pathway.
If no training options are listed when clicking on the Education or ETPL links below it is recommended to manually type in the occupation and location in the search pages available for both Education and ETPL.
Career Pathways Resources| Occupations | Education & Training | WIOA Eligible Training | Open Jobs | Occupation Overview | Related Occupations | Wage Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Related Occupations | $45,210 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Related Occupations | $43,680 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Related Occupations | $33,490 |
| Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Related Occupations | $30,370 |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Related Occupations | $29,630 |
| Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Related Occupations | $38,510 |
| Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Related Occupations | $43,780 |
| Furniture Finishers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Related Occupations | $35,920 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $45,790 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,580 |
| Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $59,800 |
| Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $45,760 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $44,930 |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $43,000 |
| Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $50,230 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $51,690 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,780 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $46,000 |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $48,170 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $49,180 |
| Occupations | Education & Training | WIOA Eligible Training | Open Jobs | Occupation Overview | Related Occupations | Wage Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Turbine Service Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $53,380 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $63,580 |
| Tool and Die Makers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $59,900 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $50,120 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $58,330 |
| Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $43,110 |
| Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,250 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $107,570 |
| Occupation | DWD Apprenticeship | Typical education needed for entry | Education & Training | WIOA Eligible Training | Open Jobs | Occupation Overview | Related Occupations | Wage Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Find Apprenticeship | Associate's degree | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $62,940 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | Find Apprenticeship | Postsecondary non-degree award | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $63,580 |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | Find Apprenticeship | High school diploma or equivalent | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $48,170 |
| Maintenance Workers, Machinery | Find Apprenticeship | High school diploma or equivalent | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $57,080 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | Find Apprenticeship | High school diploma or equivalent | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $60,330 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | Find Apprenticeship | High school diploma or equivalent | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $49,140 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Find Apprenticeship | High school diploma or equivalent | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,580 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, | Find Apprenticeship | High school diploma or equivalent | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $38,350 |
| Machinists | Find Apprenticeship | High school diploma or equivalent | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $45,020 |
| Tool and Die Makers | Find Apprenticeship | Postsecondary non-degree award | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $59,900 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers | Find Apprenticeship | Postsecondary non-degree award | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $58,330 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | Find Apprenticeship | High school diploma or equivalent | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $49,140 |
| Occupations | Education & Training | WIOA Eligible Training | Open Jobs | Occupation Overview | Related Occupations | Wage Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $88,730 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $55,280 |
| Chemical Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,720 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $57,210 |
| Mechanical Drafters | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $55,750 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $56,520 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $59,530 |
| Medical Equipment Repairers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $63,320 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $59,970 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $62,940 |
| Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $94,130 |
| Occupations | Education & Training | WIOA Eligible Training | Open Jobs | Occupation Overview | Related Occupations | Wage Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Science Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $46,670 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $78,050 |
| Industrial Engineers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $79,660 |
| Mechanical Engineers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $81,900 |
| Materials Engineers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $79,890 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $99,680 |
| Chemical Engineers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $96,170 |
| Electrical Engineers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $93,540 |
Occupation Column
Job types and descriptions. Based on the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, a federal statistical standard used by federal agencies to classify workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, or disseminating data.
DWD Apprenticeship Column
Links to Wisconsin registered apprenticeship opportunities for each occupation listed. Apprentices learn a portion of their skills in a traditional classroom, and receive most of their training on-the-job, while working for an employer.
Education & Training Column
List of education and training available for each occupation. Information in this tool comes from the U.S. Department of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Institutional Characteristics and Completions.
WIOA Eligible Training Column
A list of trainings available for the occupation. Trainings are eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title 1 training.
Open Jobs Column
Match your skills to open jobs. Skill Explorer is a Job Center of Wisconsin tool. Open Jobs List of current jobs, by occupation, from Skill Explorer.
Occupation Overview Column
Links to My Next Move, a website that provides information about each occupation. My Next Move is sponsored by the U.S Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration, and developed by the National Center for O*NET Development.
Related Occupations Column
Related Occupations List of jobs related to the occupation from Skill Explorer.
Wage Source Column
Bureau of Labor and Statistics Wage Data.
DWD Contact Information
201 E. Washington Ave
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707
(608) 266-3131
Sign up for DWD news and updates
A proud partner of the 
network
THIS SERVICE MAY CONTAIN TRANSLATIONS POWERED BY GOOGLE. GOOGLE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE TRANSLATIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) website has been translated for your convenience using translation software powered by Google Translate. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace human translators. Translations are provided as a service to users of the DWD website, and are provided "as is." No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, or correctness of any translations made from English into any other language. Some content (such as images, videos, Flash, etc.) may not be accurately translated due to the limitations of the translation software.
The official text is the English version of the website. Any discrepancies or differences created in the translation are not binding and have no legal effect for compliance or enforcement purposes. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information contained in the translated website, refer to the English version of the website which is the official version.
If you need an official translation of, or other meaningful access to, vital information on DWD's website, please contact the DWD WEB TEAM.