Apprenticeships offer a unique opportunity to get started in a career. They give you a chance to learn from experienced workers, take classes and earn money along the way. In Wisconsin, apprenticeships require a contract between the apprentice, the employer and the state that details how long your training will be, how many hours you will spend in the classroom, what skills you will learn and the wages you will receive.
More and more young people are signing up for apprenticeships. A decade ago, the average age of someone signing a contract was 29. In 2022, the average age was down to 27.1.
The most popular apprenticeships
There are dozens of different apprenticeships you can do in Wisconsin in a wide variety of jobs, from construction jobs like carpenter, painter or plumber to industrial jobs like a machinist, tool and die maker or maintenance electrician. There are also apprenticeships in service trades for jobs like barber and even funeral director. Here are the top 10 most popular apprenticeships based on the number of active contracts.
One of the most appealing aspects of an apprenticeship is the opportunity to earn while you learn. Not only will you earn money while working as an apprentice, but you also earn money while in class for instruction related to your trade. An apprenticeship contract includes a set schedule of wages as time passes and your skills grow. The specific hourly rate is determined by the rate paid for that same trade and by what part of the state you are in. To the left is a look at the range of how much select trade apprentices make in southeastern Wisconsin.