10/12/2026
OCTOBER IS MANUFACTURING MONTH!
This October, Merrill Area Public Schools is proud to celebrate Manufacturing Month and showcase the many opportunities available to our students through our Career & Technical Education programs!
Manufacturing is one of Wisconsin's most important industries -and it offers high-demand careers, competitive wages, and opportunities to build a rewarding career without necessarily requiring a four-year college degree.
CAREERS THAT PAY
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development data shows that many manufacturing careers offer strong earning potential:
• Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers - median wage of $55,620/year
• Machinists - median wage of $52,030/year
• CNC Machine Operators - median wage of $55,550/year
• Tool & Die Makers - median wage of $65,850/year
• Industrial Manufacturing Technicians - apprenticeship opportunities with experienced-level wages and paid on-the-job training
And these careers can be just the beginning. With additional training, apprenticeships, experience, and education, students can move into highly skilled positions such as industrial maintenance, automation, engineering technology, CNC programming, and manufacturing management.
WHERE OUR STUDENTS GET STARTED
At Merrill Area Public Schools, students have opportunities to develop the skills today's employers are looking for through:
WELDING
Students learn welding, fabrication, blueprint reading, metalworking, and precision skills that can lead directly into careers in manufacturing, construction, fabrication, and skilled trades. Wisconsin DWD projects 6.7% growth for welder-fabricator apprenticeships and lists an experienced-level salary of approximately $47,683 for that apprenticeship occupation.
GRAPHICS
Students develop skills in graphic design, digital media, printing, visual communication, and production - combining creativity with technology and real-world applications.
WOODS
Students learn design, construction, woodworking, problem-solving, precision measurement, and the manufacturing process from an idea to a finished product. Wisconsin DWD lists median wages of $46,150 for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters and $51,370 for wood model makers.
TRANSPORTATION
Students gain hands-on experience with automotive systems, diagnostics, repair, maintenance, tools, and technology - skills that are valuable in transportation, automotive, equipment, and manufacturing careers.
FAB LAB
The FAB Lab gives students the opportunity to design, prototype, and manufacture using modern technology and digital fabrication equipment. Students develop the combination of technology, creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on skills that today's advanced manufacturing employers need.
THE OPPORTUNITY IS HERE
Wisconsin's labor market remains strong. As of August 2026, Wisconsin had approximately 3.06 million nonfarm jobs and an unemployment rate of 3.2%.
For students, that means the skills they are developing today can translate into real opportunities after graduation.
Manufacturing isn't simply "factory work."
Today's manufacturing careers involve: Advanced technology; Robotics and automation; CNC machining; Welding and fabrication; Computer-aided design; Digital manufacturing; Electrical systems; Problem-solving; Engineering; Skilled trades; and, Entrepreneurship.
At Merrill Area Public Schools, our goal is to help students discover what they're good at, develop valuable skills, and connect their education to opportunities in the real world.
Our students aren't just preparing for the workforce - they're learning how to build, create, design, repair, and innovate.
🏭 This Manufacturing Month, we're celebrating the teachers, students, employers, and community partners who are helping build Merrill's workforce and Wisconsin's future.
Merrill students are building the future - one project at a time.
