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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmakers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $44,720 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $44,140 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $38,310 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $40,520 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $39,240 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $41,600 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $39,400 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $39,870 |
| Home Appliance Repairers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $48,360 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $38,900 |
| Upholsterers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $43,740 |
| Locksmiths and Safe Repairers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $51,020 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $46,460 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $46,230 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $43,400 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $45,280 |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $36,780 |
| Dental Laboratory Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $46,940 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $45,110 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $124,910 |
| Occupations | Education & Training | WIOA Eligible Training | Open Jobs | Occupation Overview | Related Occupations | Wage Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $48,520 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $46,880 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $46,090 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,180 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $48,170 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $48,460 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,360 |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $46,310 |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $45,580 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $41,020 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $38,530 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $46,210 |
| Machinists | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,200 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,370 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $53,600 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $49,300 |
| Etchers and Engravers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $43,060 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $45,660 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $46,660 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,440 |
| Occupations | Education & Training | WIOA Eligible Training | Open Jobs | Occupation Overview | Related Occupations | Wage Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,560 |
| Pourers and Casters, Metal | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $51,320 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $43,320 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $52,100 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $51,100 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $50,600 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $49,300 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $46,070 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $42,130 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $40,550 |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $49,190 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $64,610 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $61,950 |
| Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $55,050 |
| Maintenance Workers, Machinery | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $55,230 |
| Power Plant Operators | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $86,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $66,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $75,610 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $80,180 |
| Gas Plant Operators | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $82,880 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $47,100 |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $58,630 |
| Model Makers, Wood | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $48,890 |
| Patternmakers, Wood | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | S |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | S |
| Semiconductor Processing Technicians | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | S |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | $52,700 |
| Tire Builders | Education | ETPL | Find Jobs | Overview | Skill Explorer | S |
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
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