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Tech College

4 year College or University

Military

Registered Apprenticeship

Work

What are you doing after high school?

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Registered Apprenticeship: �Post high school education involving paid on the job training and related instruction in a classroom that results in completing at the journey-level of your trade.

On the Job Training

Paid Related Instruction

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Apprenticeship in Wisconsin

  • Overseen and contracted by the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development – Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards

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  • Progressive wages

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  • Formal, industry driven classroom and on the job instruction

Employer/Sponsor

Apprentice

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Apprenticeship in Wisconsin

  • 2 – 5 year training programs
  • Employed full-time and being paid both on the job and while in school (90% on the job, 10% classroom)
  • Completers achieve journey level status and already have a job upon graduation

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Benefits of an Apprenticeship

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Construction

Bricklayer

139

Carpenter

1623

Cement Mason

67

Concrete Finisher

35

Construction Craft Laborer

684

Construction Electrician

2957

Construction Equipment Technicians

4

Environmental Systems Technician

121

Glazier

40

Heat and Frost Insulator

111

Heavy Equipment Operator

55

HVAC Installer-Technician

209

Ironworker

434

Operating Engineer

1278

Painter and Decorator

82

Pipe Trades Fabricator

88

Plasterer

1

Plumber

2096

Residentail Gas Heat Service Technician

1

Residential Wirer

5

Roofer & Waterproofer 

107

Sheet Metal

690

Sprinklerfitter

111

Steamfitter

928

Taper & Finisher

24

Tile Setter

20

Telecommunications Installer-Technician

20

Well Driller Operator/Pump Installer

2

Industrial & Manufacturing

Automation Systems Technician

2

Bookbinder (Bindery Worker)

1

CNC Technician

18

Coating Application Specialist

5

Drafter

12

Electrical and Instrumentation Technician

230

Electrical Discharge Machining Technician

2

Electronic Technicians

1

Engineering Technicians

34

Facilities Maintenance Technician/Mechanic

20

Industrial Electrician

455

Industrial HVAC Technician

2

Industrial Maintenance Mechanic

12

Industrial Manufacturing Technician

65

Industrial Metrology Technician

3

Industrial Pipefitter

28

Industiral Shipbuilding Welder

11

Industrial Truck Mechanic

2

Injection Molding Machine Setter

50

Instrument Mechanic/Technician

3

Line Erector/Repairer/Technician

49

Lineman

10

Lubrication Technician

4

Machinist

275

Machine Build & Repair

23

Maintenance Electrician

13

Maintenance Mechanic

368

Maintenance Mechanic/Pipefitter

43

Maintenance Operator

2

Maintenance Repairer

2

Maintenance Technician

386

Mechatronics Technician

81

Metal Fabricator

9

Metering Technician

33

Millwright/Pipefitter

149

Mold Maker

64

Pattern Maker

5

Plant Attendant / Plant Operator

19

Press Set Up Operator

10

Relay Technician

3

Sheet Metal - Industrial

1

Substation Electrician / Relay & Control Tester

11

Tool and Cutter Grinder / Repairer

7

Tool and Die Maker

326

Tool Maker

31

Welder-Fabricator

32

Utility

Broadband Service Technician

3

Designer Technician (Gas & Electric)

39

Electric Cabel Splicer

21

Electric Line Worker

376

Electric Metering Technician

5

Gas Distribution

96

Gas Meter Tech/Gas Technician

35

Gas Technician Welder

4

Hydro Operator

5

Municipal Services Electrician

21

Service Technicinan - Gas & Electric

26

Utility Technician

1

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

1

​

​

IT

Cybersecurity Analyst

5

Data Analyst

0

IT Service Desk Technician

2

Software Analyst

21

​

​

Agriculture

Dairy Grazer

0

Horticultuirist

13

Organic Vegetable Farm Manager

21

Transportation

Diesel Technician

5

Distribution Systems Dispatcher

3

Heavy Truck Driver

2

Multi Craft Mechanic

9

Professional Truck Driver

21

Railway Carman

2

Roadway Maintenance Technician

1

Scale Service Technician

1

​

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Service

Arborist

98

Barber

60

Baker

7

Cosmetologist

297

Custodial Worker

8

Direct Support Professional

2

Early Childhood Educator

33

Firefighter/Fire Medic

72

Funeral Director

231

Garage Mechanic

8

HR Specialist

10

Inspector

1

Laboratory Animal Caretaker Technician

4

Restaurant Cook

22

Teacher Apprenticeship

Pilot Program

Workforce Development Specialist

12

​

​

Finance

Financial Services Professional

0

​

​

Healthcare

Caregiver

20

Interventional Cardiovascular Technologist

2

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist

2

Medical Assistant

100

Ophthalmic Assistant

11

Pharmacy Technician

50

Registered Nurse

12

dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship

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Why Construction?

Let’s look at the numbers…

  • One of the Largest industries in U.S.
  • 750,000 construction companies in U.S. with 7.9 million workers
  • It is estimated that the U.S. spends nearly $1.6 TRILLION per year in construction
  • The current average age of someone working in construction is 43 years old.

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ABC of WI Stats

  • ABC of Wisconsin has been training apprentices for 35 years and has thousands of graduates.

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  • Currently, ABC sponsors over 2,500 Apprentices in Wisconsin

12 trades

Training at 11 Technical Colleges

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Apprenticeship Trades

Bricklaying

Carpentry

Concrete Finishing

Electrical

Heavy Equipment Operating

Heating, Ventilating, and A/C (HVAC)

Heat & Frost Insulating

Plumbing

Roofing

Sheet Metal

Sprinkler Fitting

Steam Fitting

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College VS Apprenticeship

UW System School

$9,047 Tuition & Fees

x 4 years

$36,188

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*Not including Housing

(Per UW-Whitewater for 2025-26 school year)

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Minimum Hourly Wages

1st year=$17.29

2nd year=$21.13

3rd year=$24.97

4th year=$26.89

5th year=$28.81

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Average Skilled Electrician: $38.42

College VS Apprenticeship

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Electrician

$238,204 (5 year total)

  • $8,000 tuition

​

$230,204

College

​

​

​

​

-$36,188

College VS Apprenticeship

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**Based on 3% wage growth.

College graduates are estimated to be making $50,000 upon graduation.

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Think of Apprenticeship Like College

College: Pick a Major

Apprenticeship: Pick a Trade/Career

College: Choose a college

Apprenticeship: Choose an Employer

College: Apply

Apprenticeship: Apply

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DWD Apprenticeship Web Site�https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/

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DWD Apprenticeship Web Site�https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/

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DWD Apprenticeship Web Site�https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/

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Apprenticeship Requirements

  • ABC Online Application
    • High School Transcripts or GED
    • Driver’s License (or means to get to work & school)
    • *Entrance Test
    • *C or better in algebra

*Not required for all trades

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Sponsored (aka Employed)

Application Process & Next Steps

Un-Sponsored (aka Not Employed)

Submit the application and all materials to ABC

Will get scheduled an Apprentice Orientation Course & then scheduled to sign your apprenticeship contract.

Will receive a letter of introduction along with a list of contractors that are approved to train with ABC.

Find a contractor who hires you. When they are ready to sponsor you, they submit Employer Application.

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800-829-9926

www.BuildYourCareerWI.org

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