High paying production jobs in Wisconsin with no degree

The best paid production occupations in Wisconsin that require no bachelor's degree — a high school diploma, a certificate, or an associate's degree is the typical entry. This is the narrowest cut on the site, so it is also the shortest list: where a field has only two or three such occupations, there is no page at all rather than a page pretending otherwise.

Cost of living: prices in Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average (2024), so a Wisconsin salary is worth about 1.06× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Wisconsin.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find production jobs in Wisconsin

OccupationMedian, Wisconsin · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,690 – $101,75025,500
2Tool and Die Makers$68,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,940 – $81,6702,450
3Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$67,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,220 – $79,4701,610
4Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,340 – $78,7902,230
5Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$60,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,250 – $76,7501,520
6Machinists$59,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,600 – $76,28012,700
7Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$58,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,060 – $70,72015,320
8Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,740 – $70,2408,510
9Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$57,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,370 – $67,7301,150
10Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$56,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,670 – $66,0501,810
11Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$52,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,800 – $72,2908,330
12Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,900 – $74,3203,380
13Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$50,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,390 – $65,6502,730
14Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,200 – $71,9503,190
15Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,290 – $69,27017,670
16Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,290 – $62,5807,960
17Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,090 – $64,0006,120
18Prepress Technicians and Workers$48,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,020 – $66,0901,160
19Food Batchmakers$48,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,990 – $58,88018,040
20Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,940 – $58,3001,300
21Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,370 – $71,9003,570
22Printing Press Operators$47,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,980 – $65,2608,120
23Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,030 – $60,5403,570
24Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,390 – $61,0402,070
25Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,520 – $58,4801,730
26Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$46,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,760 – $57,49016,150
27Butchers and Meat Cutters$45,980
No formal educational credential
$33,170 – $56,2103,510
28Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$45,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,500 – $59,86046,360
29Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,470 – $60,5608,700
30Helpers--Production Workers$45,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,670 – $61,0102,900
31Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$44,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,430 – $55,1702,610
32Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$44,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,220 – $55,9301,880
33Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,430 – $63,220940
34Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,630 – $59,5308,590
35Foundry Mold and Coremakers$44,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,480 – $62,4901,270
36Print Binding and Finishing Workers$43,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,200 – $58,8003,560
37Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$43,300
No formal educational credential
$35,890 – $48,4902,040
38Production Workers, All Other$42,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,150 – $59,4205,950
39Sewing Machine Operators$40,370
No formal educational credential
$30,860 – $50,0802,370
40Slaughterers and Meat Packers$37,510
No formal educational credential
$30,130 – $53,2102,620
41Bakers$37,310
No formal educational credential
$29,640 – $48,0304,930
42Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$35,700
No formal educational credential
$29,270 – $42,2403,310

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianWisconsin	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,840	$50,690 – $101,750	25,500
2	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,120	$46,940 – $81,670	2,450
3	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,460	$56,220 – $79,470	1,610
4	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,550	$50,340 – $78,790	2,230
5	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,100	$38,250 – $76,750	1,520
6	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,110	$40,600 – $76,280	12,700
7	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,410	$47,060 – $70,720	15,320
8	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,050	$45,740 – $70,240	8,510
9	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,640	$44,370 – $67,730	1,150
10	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,310	$40,670 – $66,050	1,810
11	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,690	$40,800 – $72,290	8,330
12	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,200	$39,900 – $74,320	3,380
13	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,870	$41,390 – $65,650	2,730
14	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,230	$34,200 – $71,950	3,190
15	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,610	$37,290 – $69,270	17,670
16	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,270	$38,290 – $62,580	7,960
17	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,170	$39,090 – $64,000	6,120
18	Prepress Technicians and WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,410	$38,020 – $66,090	1,160
19	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,360	$36,990 – $58,880	18,040
20	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,040	$36,940 – $58,300	1,300
21	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,700	$38,370 – $71,900	3,570
22	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,330	$36,980 – $65,260	8,120
23	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,330	$37,030 – $60,540	3,570
24	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,790	$38,390 – $61,040	2,070
25	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,370	$38,520 – $58,480	1,730
26	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,220	$35,760 – $57,490	16,150
27	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$45,980	$33,170 – $56,210	3,510
28	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,670	$36,500 – $59,860	46,360
29	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,470	$34,470 – $60,560	8,700
30	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,100	$34,670 – $61,010	2,900
31	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,450	$35,430 – $55,170	2,610
32	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,440	$33,220 – $55,930	1,880
33	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,350	$29,430 – $63,220	940
34	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,230	$34,630 – $59,530	8,590
35	Foundry Mold and CoremakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,130	$32,480 – $62,490	1,270
36	Print Binding and Finishing WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,400	$36,200 – $58,800	3,560
37	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$43,300	$35,890 – $48,490	2,040
38	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,850	$33,150 – $59,420	5,950
39	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$40,370	$30,860 – $50,080	2,370
40	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$37,510	$30,130 – $53,210	2,620
41	BakersNo formal educational credential	$37,310	$29,640 – $48,030	4,930
42	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,700	$29,270 – $42,240	3,310

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Wisconsin. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Wisconsin

Metro areas in Wisconsin

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Wisconsin

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Wisconsin to rank honestly.

High paying production jobs in Wisconsin with no degree

More for Wisconsin

Metro areas in Wisconsin

By field in Wisconsin

Without a degree

High paying production jobs in each state with no degree