Milwaukee is one of America's great machining towns. Start on the floor at 18 or take a 1-year diploma, and climb from button-pusher to programmer — the people who tell million-dollar machines what to do.
Every step shows real pay, real time, and who's hiring. Tap any step to open it.
Takes about a minute. We track your steps from there.
Get road-ready
Diploma + a way to get to the shop
CNC operator (direct entry)
Hired off the street, trained at the machine
$17–21/hr 6–18 mo
CNC technical diploma
One year to skip a rung
12 mo
Setup operator
You build the job, not just run it
$21–26/hr 1–2 yrs
CNC machinist
NIMS-credentialed, shop-floor senior
$24–30/hr
The path splits — pick your ending
Employment
Manufacturing engineering tech / shop lead
$75–95K
Ownership
Tool & die apprenticeship
$32–42/hr 4–5 yrs
Precision job shop owner
$100K+
Get road-ready
Diploma + a way to get to the shop
CNC operator (direct entry)
Hired off the street, trained at the machine
$17–21/hr 6–18 mo
CNC technical diploma
One year to skip a rung
12 mo
Setup operator
You build the job, not just run it
$21–26/hr 1–2 yrs
CNC machinist
NIMS-credentialed, shop-floor senior
$24–30/hr
CNC programmer
CAM seat, big raise
$30–40/hr
Manufacturing engineering tech / shop lead
Own the process end to end
$75–95K
Tool & die apprenticeship
The master craft of metalworking
$32–42/hr 4–5 yrs
Precision job shop owner
Machines that make money while you sleep
$100K+
Typical Milwaukee-metro ranges — offers vary by shop and shift.