Exploring Your Career Pathway in Manufacturing

Work or College?
So, do you have any other options than go to college and racking up student debt? Yes!
There are careers where you can enter the workforce right out of high school or after
completing certification programs. In fact, you may even find employers who are willing to
pay for your college as you continue to work for them.
Let’s look at some comparisons:
Future Teacher
$20,900 $20,900 $20,900 $20,900 $45,000
(based on 4 year degree at in-state pubic university and an
average beginning salary of $45,000.
$45,000 $45,000 $45,000 $45,000 $45,000
$80,360 DEBT $270,000 EARNINGS
$270,000
EARNINGS
$80,360
DEBT
$190,000
EARNINGS
YEAR 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Future Welder
(based on entering the workforce right out of high school with a
beginning salary of $30,000.)
$30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000
$300,000
EARNINGS
$300,000 EARNINGS
$300,000
EARNINGS
$0
DEBT
Other Possibilities and Benefits
This example does not take into account the worker
entering the workforce continuing their
education. Many employers may pay for
a two or four degree for workers who
want to further their education while
they continue to work. This means
you could actually add $40,000 or
$80,000 to the amount the worker
would be ahead.
You do have many
options for your
future. Explore ALL
of your options for
career and college.
With the additional degree, the worker’s
average salary would also increase dramatically.
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