Trade Schools
If you live in Wisconsin and you want to start a rewarding career in trades, the electrician profession is worth exploring.
Before being ready to apply for your first position in the field, you have to complete some specialized training at a community college, trade school, or through an apprenticeship.
To help you choose the program that best meets your needs, on this page we have compiled information about the top electrician schools in Wisconsin.
Many schools offer flexible schedules, financial assistance, and a variety of other means of accommodating different student needs.
1Northeast WI Technical College
About the School
Northeast WI Technical College provides degrees, classes, and training in a variety of areas of interest.
Tuition is $160 per credit.
Total program cost varies depending on the pathway and the number of credits required for graduation.
Financial aid, scholarships, and payment plans are also available to help students cover the costs.
The college offers short-term credentials and certificates that prepare students for employment fast, one and two-year technical diplomas, associate degrees, and apprenticeships.
Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees are also available for students who afterward want to continue their training towards a four-year degree.
Courses Offered
The following electricity-related programs are available:
- Construction Electrician Apprenticeship
- Electrical and Instrumentation Apprenticeship
- Electrical Engineering Technology- Associate Degree
- Electrical Engineering Technology- Transfer Emphasis- Associate Degree
- Electricity- Technical Diploma
- Electro-Mechanical Technology- Associate Degree
The duration and cost vary depending on the program.
The Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology costs approximately $13,500 and includes tuition, books, and supplies.
This program is available in Green Bay.
The curriculum includes classes on Introduction to AC/DC, Machine Wiring and Safety, College Algebra and Trig, RLC Circuits, and many other topics.
Students can choose between part-time and full-time schedules in the daytime or evenings.
Contact Information
- Address: 2740 West Mason St, Green Bay, WI 54303
- Phone: 920-498-5444
- Website: https://www.nwtc.edu
2Lakeshore Technical College
About the School
Lakeshore Technical College provides degree programs and certificates, as well as apprenticeships, seminars, continuing education, and community education programs.
More than 70 one-year technical and two-year associate degrees that cover the skills and knowledge needed for a new career are offered at the college.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
Lakeshore Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes an Electro-Mechanical Automation Technology program.
This program is available in person and leads to an Associate Degree.
Students need 67 credits for graduation.
Tuition is $143.45 per credit for resident students.
The curriculum includes classes on:
- DC Fundamentals
- Industrial Wiring
- Microcontroller Programming
- Tools and Measurements
- Written Communication
- AC Fundamentals
- Programmable Controllers
- Electromechanical Systems
- NEC Codes
- Robotics Introduction
- Industrial Troubleshooting
- And many other topics
An Introduction to Electro-Mechanical Technology certificate program is also available at the college.
This program includes 10 credits and covers the following classes:
- Tools and Measurement
- Industrial Wiring
- Hydraulics and Pneumatics
- Robotic Mechanical Maintenance
- College Technical Mathematics 1A
Contact Information
- Address: 1290 North Avenue, Cleveland, WI 53015
- Phone: 1.888.GO.TO.LTC
- Website: https://gotoltc.edu
3Western Technical College
About the School
Western Technical College provides educational programs designed to prepare students with the skills needed for employment in their field of choice.
Students receive the essential training for a better career.
Western provides hands-on training and education through more than 100 programs in a variety of formats.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes the following electricity-related programs:
- Electromechanical Maintenance Technician- a 29-credit program that prepares students for employment or transfer in the second year of an Electromechanical Technology associate’s degree program
- Electromechanical Technology- a 64-credit program that emphasizes the application of control systems that integrate computers, hydraulics, pneumatics, motor controls, robotics, and mechanical drives in automated processes
- Electronic & Computer Engineering Technology- a 63-credit program that prepares students for a lucrative career in Electrical or Computer Engineering at UW-La Crosse
Costs vary depending on the program.
The Electronic and Computer Engineering Technology program costs approximately $10,600, while the Electromechanical Maintenance Technician program costs $5,000.
Contact Information
- Address: 400 7th Street North, La Crosse, WI 54601
- Phone: 608-785-9200
- Website: https://www.westerntc.edu
4IBEW Local 158
About the School
IBEW Local 158 provides apprenticeships that prepare students for rewarding careers in the electricity field.
The program teaches students how to plan, diagram, install, and repair electrical fixtures, apparatus, and control equipment.
To qualify for admission to an apprenticeship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age before the time of the first assignment
- Be a high school graduate or have a GED
- Have completed one full year of high school Algebra with a passing score of “C” or one post-high school Algebra course with a passing grade of at least “C”
- Pass an aptitude test
The apprenticeship can be completed in five years and includes at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training.
Trainees spend a minimum of 720 hours attending paid instruction but are also required to attend at least 200 hours of class instruction on their own time.
The apprenticeship is divided into six pay periods.
At each level, apprentices receive a wage that is calculated as a percentage of the journeyworker Electrician Base Wage Rate.
Contact Information
- Address: 2970 Greenbrier Rd., Green Bay, WI 54311-6532
- Phone: (920) 432-0158
- Website: https://ibew158.com
5Mid-State Technical College
About the School
Mid-State Technical College offers more than 85 hands-on programs students can choose from.
The programs are developed with input from local central Wisconsin employers, school instructors, and experts in the field.
Career pathways are designed to help students earn a credential and start using this credential to find a job.
Mid-State Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes a Construction Trades pathway.
This program leads to a technical diploma and provides students with the basic knowledge and experience needed to get started in the construction, plumbing, electrical, and pipefitting fields.
The curriculum includes classes on:
- Electricity for the Construction Trades
- Construction Fundamentals
- Piping Applications
- Blueprint Reading for Construction Trades
- Safety for Construction Trades
- Welding Fundamentals
In total, the program includes 11 credits.
Tuition and fees for this program sum up to $1,905.66.
Contact Information
- Address: 401 N Main Street, Adams, Wisconsin 53910
- Phone: 888.575.6782
- Website: https://www.mstc.edu
6Madison Area Technical College
About the School
Madison Area Technical College provides more than 180 training programs that help students start or upgrade their careers.
Students have the option of starting their four-year degree at the college.
More than 140 transfer pathways are available.
Non-credit classes are also offered for individuals who want professional development or to learn a new skill.
Career training programs are available in 11 areas of study.
Students can transfer to UW-Madison and beyond.
Opportunities are also available for high school students.
Courses Offered
The following Electricity-related programs are featured in the college’s catalog:
- Electrical Construction Apprentice- a 20-credit program
- Electrical Maintenance (Industrial Maintenance)- a 13-credit program
- Electrician Apprentice- a 16-credit program
- Electro-Mechanical Technology- a 64-credit program
- Electromechanical & Engineering Foundations- a 20-credit program
Costs vary depending on the program and the number of credits required for graduation.
The Electrical Construction Apprentice program costs $3,100, while the Electrical Engineering Technology program costs $11,521.14
The curriculum also varies depending on the program, but it may include classes on:
- Safety for Industry
- DC Theory
- Industrial Electricity and Controls
- Interpreting Engineering Drawings
- College Mathematics
- And many other topics
Contact Information
- Address: 1701 Wright Street, Madison WI 53704
- Phone: 608.246.6100
- Website: https://madisoncollege.edu
7Fox Valley Technical College
About the School
Fox Valley Technical College provides high-tech occupational training that prepares students for today’s workplace.
Students participate in hands-on learning labs that provide them with real-world experience during their education at Fox Valley Tech.
Tuition is $160.85 per credit for an associate degree, technical diploma, and certificate classes.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes a variety of training programs, including:
- Electrician Apprentice (ABC)
- Electricity- a Technical Diploma program
- Electrical Engineering Technology- an A.A.S. degree program
- Electronic Engineering Technology- a program that leads to an A.A.S. degree
- Electronics Fundamentals- a Certificate program
The curriculum and number of credits vary depending on the program.
The Electrical Engineering Technology program includes 70 credits.
The training includes work on electronic circuits that are stand-alone building blocks, and embedded controls in products, machines, or processes.
The curriculum includes classes on:
- Digital
- DC Circuits
- Embedded Programming
- Construction Techniques
- Computer Systems & Networks
- Embedded Programming
- Semiconductors
- Circuit Analysis
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1825 N. Bluemound Drive, Appleton, WI 54912-2277
- Phone: 800-735-FVTC (3882)
- Website: https://www.fvtc.edu
8Blackhawk Technical College
About the School
Blackhawk Technical College offers educational opportunities at three locations in Rock and Green counties.
Over 60 academic offerings and 70 college transfer agreements are available.
Blackhawk Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
A variety of credit and non-credit classes are available.
Students may choose between flexible learning options.
They learn the skills needed for their career of choice in first-class facilities using high-tech equipment.
Courses Offered
Among the many programs available at the college, there is an Electric Power Distribution program and a program in Electro-Mechanical Technology.
The Electric Power Distribution program is provided at the central campus in Janesville and is designed for students who want to advance to an electric line technician apprenticeship or earn a job as a power technician.
The Electro-Mechanical Technology program leads to an associate degree and is available at the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in Milton.
Electro-Mechanical students learn how to design, construct, and support a wide range of automated equipment and robotics systems.
Contact Information
- Address: 6004 S County Road G, Janesville, WI 53546
- Phone: (608) 758-6900
- Website: https://blackhawk.edu
9Gateway Technical College
About the School
Gateway Technical College provides more than 70 career programs.
The programs lead to an associate degree or technical diploma, depending on the chosen path.
The college has an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Programs are available at nine campus and center locations and enroll more than 16,000 students per year.
Courses Offered
Among many other programs, Gateway Technical College provides the following pathways:
- Electrical Engineering Technology
- Electromechanical Maintenance Technician
The Electrical Engineering Technology program includes 69 program credits.
The program’s core program courses are designed with an industrial advisory committee of local employers and taught by professional engineers.
Students enrolled in this program pay approximately $11,600 for tuition and fees and approximately $5,100 for books and supplies.
Electromechanical Maintenance Technicians prepare students for in-demand careers in robotics and machine repair.
Students learn how to build, maintain and troubleshoot high-tech automated systems in state-of-the-art labs.
The program includes 31 credits.
Tuition and fees sum up to approximately $5,300, while books and supplies add approximately $2,300 to the total cost.
Contact Information
- Address: 3520 – 30th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53144
- Phone: 1-800-247-7122
- Website: https://www.gtc.edu
10Waukesha County Technical College
About the School
Waukesha County Technical College provides technical education that is focused on the relevant skills for today’s emerging careers.
Tuition is $143 per credit for Wisconsin residents.
Waukesha County Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
Among many other programs, the college provides the following Electrical apprenticeships:
- Electrical and Instrumentation
- Industrial Electrician
The Electrical and Instrumentation program includes 36 credits.
Students learn how to install, troubleshoot, and maintain plant lighting equipment and receptacle circuits, motors, starters, motor control centers, programmable controllers, control panels, electrical control systems, and transformers.
They also learn how to follow relevant codes when servicing high-voltage electrical systems, and how to install, calibrate, test, and repair electronic equipment.
The Industrial Electrician program prepares students who can install, test, troubleshoot, maintain and repair electrical equipment in industrial or commercial settings.
Apprentices receive high-quality hands-on classroom instruction designed to complement the on-the-job training part.
After completing the apprenticeship, students receive a nationally-recognized completion certification.
Contact Information
- Address: 800 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI 53072
- Phone: 262.691.5566
- Website: https://www.wctc.edu
Regional Salary in Wisconsin
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | 640 | $67,360 | $32.39 | $83,740 | $40,040 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 290 | $66,250 | $31.85 | $91,610 | $38,180 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 160 | $68,570 | $32.97 | $84,180 | $40,830 |
| Green Bay, WI | 760 | $62,810 | $30.2 | $85,960 | $37,680 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 400 | $71,120 | $34.19 | $105,300 | $37,440 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 290 | $70,690 | $33.99 | $96,710 | $41,210 |
| Madison, WI | 1,440 | $71,240 | $34.25 | $94,070 | $42,580 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | 2,990 | $75,200 | $36.15 | $106,320 | $44,090 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 560 | $66,630 | $32.04 | $93,240 | $38,300 |
| Racine, WI | 200 | $76,290 | $36.68 | $129,360 | $37,980 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 320 | $65,260 | $31.37 | $92,940 | $38,500 |
| Wausau, WI | 310 | $69,940 | $33.62 | $88,000 | $42,360 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list, the next step is to continue the research and gather information about all the factors that are relevant to you.
After also checking the admission requirements, it’s time to apply for the program that best meets your needs.
