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Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin · Public technical college
Address: 400 Seventh St. North, La Crosse, WI 54601 · Phone: (608) 785-9200 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing assistants | $37,900 | $45,130 | $47,320 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $33,550 | $43,060 | $49,960 |
| Medical assistants | $39,480 | $48,680 | $55,000 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $36,590 | $54,350 | $69,570 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $47,060 | $58,410 | $62,220 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $45,930 | $61,710 | $79,100 |
| Dental assistants | $39,500 | $47,520 | $55,630 |
| Medical records specialists | $46,750 | $60,280 | $66,140 |
| Construction laborers | $37,990 | $56,100 | $72,130 |
| Electricians | $44,830 | $76,540 | $93,780 |
| Surgical technologists | $59,410 | $74,120 | $79,010 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $41,990 | $61,300 | $74,080 |
| Machinists | $40,600 | $59,110 | $63,350 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters | $50,020 | $81,210 | $103,560 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $45,250 | $62,450 | $74,800 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Wisconsin (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 213 | $27,991 | $20,530 | $5,500 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 80 | $35,604 | not reported | $5,935 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 37 | $36,987 | $33,993 | $5,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 31 | $31,954 | $30,962 | $9,208 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 26 | $41,712 | $39,489 | $5,916 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 23 | $27,991 | $20,530 | $5,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 14 | $40,555 | $38,649 | $12,000 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | $30,011 | $28,960 | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | $35,000 | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 13 | $41,712 | $39,489 | $5,916 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | $35,604 | not reported | $5,935 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 10 | $47,682 | $47,260 | $11,033 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 10 | $40,555 | $38,649 | $12,000 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 10 | $31,876 | $32,806 | $12,316 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | $7,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | $41,712 | $39,489 | $5,916 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 3 | $47,682 | $47,260 | $11,033 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | $35,604 | not reported | $5,935 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | $41,712 | $39,489 | $5,916 |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | $36,987 | $33,993 | $5,500 |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.