Wisconsin Skilled Trade Salaries & Job Outlook
Trade Industry Insights / Wisconsin Skilled Trade Salaries & Job Outlook
Quick Takeaways on Trade Pay in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s trade economy is built around things that don’t move—plants, utilities, and long-running industrial employers. Career stability here often comes from embedding into systems that operate year after year rather than hopping between short-term projects.
- Higher-paying paths on this page: Lineworker, CDL Truck Driver, AV Technician.
- Highest-paying trade in Wisconsin (from this table): Lineworker ($89,840)
- Typical mid-range trade pay: Median across listed trades is about $59,332 per year.
- Pay range across these trades: About $38,110 separates the highest vs lowest listed trades in Wisconsin.
- Most stable demand in Wisconsin: plant maintenance and utility-adjacent work with long employer tenures.
- Best way to increase earnings: use apprenticeship progression to step into industrial maintenance or controls-focused roles.
- Top paying trades on this page: Lineworker ($89,840) · CDL Truck Driver ($75,420) · AV Technician ($69,846)
Job Outlook for Skilled Trades in Wisconsin
Demand is shaped most by manufacturing corridors around Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay where uptime is a daily priority, plus licensing rules, employer mix, and metro growth.
Wisconsin earnings are closely tied to industrial tenure, where staying embedded in long-running facilities often raises lifetime income.
- Outlook: Stable (industrial tenure)
- What drives demand: manufacturing corridors around Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay where uptime is a daily priority.
- Where it’s hottest: major metros + fast-growing corridors (varies by trade).
- Biggest pay factors: experience, union coverage, licensing, overtime, and employer type.
Average Skilled Trade Pay in Wisconsin
Below is a snapshot of typical pay for popular trades in Wisconsin. Click a trade name to explore training paths, licensing steps, and career details.
Note: Some trades can rank high across many states due to national labor demand and standardized pay structures, but the exact pay levels still vary by state and metro area.
| Trade | Avg Hourly | Avg Weekly | Avg Monthly | Avg Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Technician | $27.00 | $1,080 | $4,684 | $56,195 |
| AV Technician | $33.58 | $1,343 | $5,821 | $69,846 |
| Carpenter | $26.29 | $1,053 | $4,564 | $54,763 |
| CDL Truck Driver | $36.25 | $1,450 | $6,285 | $75,420 |
| CNC Machinist | $24.87 | $995 | $4,311 | $51,730 |
| Construction | $26.40 | $1,056 | $4,576 | $54,912 |
| Concrete Finisher | $28.94 | $1,158 | $5,016 | $60,195 |
| Diesel Technician | $30.03 | $1,201 | $5,205 | $62,462 |
| Electrician | $31.79 | $1,271 | $5,510 | $66,123 |
| Heavy Equipment | $25.94 | $1,020 | $4,418 | $53,013 |
| HVAC Technician | $29.27 | $1,172 | $5,077 | $60,922 |
| Industrial Mechanic | $28.94 | $1,158 | $5,017 | $60,199 |
| Ironworker | $27.57 | $1,103 | $4,779 | $57,345 |
| Lineworker | $43.19 | $1,728 | $7,487 | $89,840 |
| Marine Mechanic | $29.91 | $1,196 | $5,184 | $62,215 |
| Mason | $28.11 | $1,124 | $4,872 | $58,469 |
| Plumber | $33.68 | $1,323 | $5,734 | $68,802 |
| Roofer | $25.15 | $1,006 | $4,359 | $52,312 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $26.63 | $1,040 | $4,502 | $54,018 |
| Welder | $25.47 | $1,013 | $4,389 | $52,662 |
Wage figures are estimates and can vary by experience level, metro area, union status, and employer.
About this table: wage data sources and methodology.
Why Wisconsin Is a Strong State for Trade Careers
Wisconsin’s trade economy is anchored by manufacturing, industrial maintenance, utilities, and commercial construction rather than rapid population growth. Long-established factories, food processing plants, paper mills, and energy infrastructure create consistent demand for electricians, millwrights, welders, pipefitters, HVAC technicians, and industrial mechanics across the state.
Where Trade Demand Is Concentrated
- Milwaukee metro area: Commercial construction, manufacturing facilities, and healthcare systems support electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and maintenance trades.
- Fox Valley & Green Bay: Paper production, food processing, and industrial manufacturing drive demand for welders, millwrights, and industrial electricians.
- Statewide rural regions: Utilities, agriculture-related processing plants, and energy infrastructure support steady skilled trade employment.
Major Employers and Contractors in Wisconsin
Many skilled trade jobs in Wisconsin are tied to long-term industrial and utility employers rather than short-term construction cycles, including:
- Johnson Controls — HVAC systems manufacturing and service operations headquartered in Milwaukee.
- Briggs & Stratton — Manufacturing and industrial maintenance roles.
- Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC Energy Group) — Electrical generation, transmission, and utility infrastructure.
- Rockwell Automation — Industrial automation manufacturing and technical maintenance roles.
Union vs Non-Union Trade Paths in Wisconsin
Wisconsin supports both union and non-union trade pathways, with unions playing a strong role in industrial facilities, utilities, and large commercial projects. Non-union employment is common in residential construction, service trades, and smaller manufacturing operations.
Union Apprenticeships in Wisconsin
Union apprenticeship programs in Wisconsin are closely tied to manufacturing plants, utilities, and commercial construction:
- IBEW Local 494 — Electrical apprenticeships serving the Milwaukee area.
- IBEW Local 2150 — Utility and electrical work in northeastern Wisconsin.
- UA Local 601 — Plumbing, pipefitting, and HVAC apprenticeships based in Milwaukee.
- SMART Local 18 — Sheet metal and HVAC fabrication training across Wisconsin.
- IUOE Local 139 — Heavy equipment operator apprenticeships supporting construction and infrastructure projects statewide.
Ready to start a trade career in Wisconsin?
Compare accredited trade schools and registered apprenticeships across Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Trade Schools & Apprenticeships