CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION
FOR PARENTS
Guiding your child through the process.
01
Many Paths
Apprenticeship is proven
Young adults have a lot of options after high school. The key is for parents to be supportive. Supportive parents who resist overly influencing their children will likely experience less tension during this big life transition. It comes as no surprise that children who make their own decisions feel more confident, focused and tend to achieve more. It may not appear to be a logical choice, but parents should be ready for their child to say, “It just feels right.”
Apprenticeship has been a proven pathway to great jobs in Wisconsin since 1911. It combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction to provide the skills and knowledge needed to make a great living. With an apprenticeship, your child can start with a job and build a career.
Apprenticeship is a unique education and training program where your child will work full time for a company that trains them in the full scope of your trade. In addition, her or she will attend classes (typically at a technical college) to learn the theory and practical knowledge to support your on-the- job training. Your child earns income and also attends classes.
Apprenticeship
has been a prove pathway to great jobs in Wisconsin since
1911
02
Value vs. Hype
Apprenticeship is UNIQUE
Value is much more important that bragging rights and prestige associated with decisions after high school, especially when those decisions are smart ones. Huge college debt has longer lasting effects than short-lived pangs of prestige.
Funds saved in EdVest (a 529 plan) may be used to cover apprenticeship programs.
A MAJOR HEAD START
College Cost
Total tuition over 4 years*
Total tuition after 4 years
–$33,000
*Estimated Tuition at modestly-priced UW-Whitewater; not including room, board, etc.
Apprenticeship earnings
Minimum yearly income during education*
Total earnings after 5 years
+$213,900
– $10,000
(Total earnings minus total tuition)
+$203,900
HEAD START
*Total income during 5-year Electrical Apprenticeship
03
Educational satisfaction
HELP WITH FINDING THE RIGHT TRADE
Currently, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards offers adult registered apprenticeships in over 60 different occupations and over 15,000 Wisconsinites are currently in a registered apprenticeship program. ABC of Wisconsin offers apprenticeships in 11 trades and has over 2,000 people currently in our program – making us one of the largest single apprenticeship trainers in the state.
Each year, the Wisconsin Technical College System does a survey of people completing registered apprenticeship programs. 92% of apprentices were satisfied with their on the job training. The median salary of those completing the construction apprenticeship is $85,000!!
Check out the full WTCS Report.
04
Years of experience
IT'S EASY TO BEGIN THE PROCESS
ABC of Wisconsin has been training apprentices since 1987. Thousands and thousands of people are proud to call themselves ABC of Wisconsin graduates, and they are many times the future company owners, teachers, and leaders of our association.
Watch this 56 second video with parents of two apprenticeship graduates.
apprentice graduate and current owner
Jessica Cannizzaro, Milestone Plumbing
The apprenticeship program helped strengthen my self-confidence by providing the tools necessary to pursue not only becoming a licensed master plumber, but also achieving another goal of becoming and entrepreneur.