If you want to start a career as a welder in Wisconsin, you should know that this state is home to three of the top metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels for welders.
There are many other things you can learn about this profession by reading the information that we have compiled for you in this article.
Contents
Career Path
A high school diploma or equivalent is all you need before starting a career as a welder but having some post-secondary education will help you get a higher starting salary.
If your high school offers some technical courses, it’s a good idea to take them because this will teach you the basics of blueprint reading and other technical skills that are very useful in welding.
As you would expect, most employers prefer candidates who have a diploma or degree in the field but there are still some who will train you on the job.
As a beginner in this career, it’s a good idea to apply for a certificate offered by the American Welding Society because this can help you earn a higher starting salary.
There are many places where you can learn welding in the state of Wisconsin- like trade schools, apprenticeships, and community colleges.
Tuition varies between a few thousand and more than $15,000 depending on the duration and the type of the program but scholarships are also available to qualifying students.
Before deciding where to enroll it’s best to visit the school’s website and to gather as much information as needed about accreditation, tuition costs, curriculum, exams, and all the other factors that will be relevant in your decision.
Below we have compiled contact information about the top welding schools in Wisconsin.
40 Welding Schools in Welding Schools In Wisconsin
Welders in Wisconsin
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary in the state of Wisconsin is $51,250.
The manufacturing industry accounts for 18.57% of the state’s total output and employs 16.97% of the total workforce, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.
In 2018 the total output from manufacturing was $64.88 Billion.
The second-biggest manufacturing industry in Wisconsin is machinery manufacturing, which contributes roughly $8.9 Billion to the state’s output, followed by fabricated metal products manufacturers with approximately $7.27 Billion.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industries with the highest employment level for this profession are:
- Manufacturers of fabricated metal products
- Manufacturers of machinery
- Manufacturers of fabricated metal products
- Manufacturers of motor vehicles
- Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, and Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI are three of the top metropolitan areas when it comes to employment levels for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers.
The average annual wage reported by workers in these regions was $46,240, $50,610, and $51,540 respectively.
According to salary.com, the median annual wage for Wisconsin welders with less than 3 years of experience is $42,679 as of April 2021.
The median salary shows us that half of all entry-level workers earned less than this amount while half earned more.
This is lower than the state average but salaries increase as welders become more experienced and earn additional certifications.
As an entry-level welder, you can make anywhere between less than $34,000 and more than $54,000.
Earning a post-secondary degree or certificate and learning multiple welding techniques can improve your starting salary.
The same report calculates the median annual salary for welders with 3-5 years of experience at $49,293 but wages range from less than $39,000 and more than $61,000 depending on other factors, including the industry of employment and the level of education.
Welders with 5-7 years of experience reportedly earn $59,694 per year on average.
The lowest 10 percent of experienced welders reportedly made less than $45,561 while the highest 10 percent made more than $77,411.
Annual Salary Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$32K | |
$48K | |
$77K |
Average Salary of Welders in Welding Schools In Wisconsin
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $49,071 |
| Madison | $48,582 |
| Green Bay | $47,564 |
| Kenosha | $48,709 |
| Racine | $48,709 |
| Appleton | $47,574 |
| Waukesha | $48,886 |
| Oshkosh | $47,266 |
| Eau Claire | $46,227 |
| Janesville | $48,384 |
