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For jobs paying at least $50K a year in Wisconsin, about two-thirds require a college degree, according to a new report

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For jobs paying at least K a year in Wisconsin, about two-thirds require a college degree, according to a new report


About two in three jobs paying $50,000 a year or more in Wisconsin require some sort of college degree, according to new nonpartisan research. And that demand for a degree is expected to increase.

The nonprofit Wisconsin Policy Forum analyzed the state’s projected job openings from 2020 to 2030, how much those jobs pay and what type of degree is usually needed to get one. Released this month, the research puts Wisconsin-specific numbers to a national issue that lawmakers, educators and students alike are grappling with: how to make higher education accessible and affordable, especially given the time and money it takes to earn a degree.

An analysis by the University of Wisconsin-Madison found Wisconsin’s student loan debt is low compared to most other states. Federal student loans still directly affect more than a half-million Wisconsin residents — an estimated 715,800 people — for an average of $32,230 in loans each; that’s nearly one in four people in the labor force, according to 2020 data.

Wisconsin is incentivizing K-12 schools to create programs to give high schoolers experience firsthand with jobs and college before they graduate. In part, that’s in response to the cost of college and workforce shortages. More high schoolers statewide are participating in dual enrollment programs, for example, which allow them to earn free or low-cost college credits. State lawmakers have recently increased funding pools for youth apprenticeship and high school programs leading to credentials in high-demand jobs.

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The Wisconsin Policy Forum’s recently released report defines a “high-paying job” as paying at least $50,000 annually. That’s equivalent to $24.04 an hour, according to a wage calculator by financial company ADP. The definition of a “living wage” changes based on whom you ask, but a commonly cited calculator by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology defines it as $16.06 an hour, or just over $33,000 annually, for a single person or $35 an hour, or just under $73,000 annually, for household of one adult, and one child.

Either way, those wages are much higher than Wisconsin’s minimum wage of $7.25, or hourly pay for its most common, lowest-paying jobs. For example, school bus monitors are paid an average of $12.60 an hour; child care workers $13 and home health care aides $14.09, according to Wisconsin-specific data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

More: Wisconsin politicians have specific goals for careers-focused education. What are they?

Report: For jobs paying over 50K annually, 58% usually require a four-year degree

Whether because of retirements or career changes, job projections suggest an average of 357,000 positions need filling annually from 2020 to 2030.

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Most of those open jobs — three in four — don’t require a college degree and pay less than $50,000 a year.

The question of how to get a higher-paying job often comes down to training. Focusing their research just on jobs paying at least $50,000 annually, researchers from the Wisconsin Policy Forum found:

  • 58.1% of jobs generally required at least a four-year degree;
  • 5.9% generally required a two-year degree, certificate or technical diploma;
  • 36.1% generally required related training or experience, but not a traditional degree.

Of the most in-demand, higher-paying jobs in Wisconsin, the one most in demand through 2030 is nursing. The field sees more than 3,600 openings each year and pays an average annual salary of $73,540. Becoming a registered nurse at minimum requires a two-year degree associate’s degree, although many prospective nurses go through four-year degree programs.

Just 7% of job openings in Wisconsin pay at least $75,000 annually. Of those, 91% require at least a bachelor’s degree, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum analysis.

Still, 1 in 3 higher-paying jobs don’t come with requirements for traditional degree

Reading between the lines, the Wisconsin Policy Forum report suggests a substantial portion of jobs paying over $50,000 a year —  over one in three, or 36% — don’t require a college degree.

Five of the 10 most in-demand, higher-paying jobs in Wisconsin through 2030 fall into that category. They include:

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  • Sales representatives, such as in manufacturing and wholesale
  • Agricultural managers, such as farmers and ranchers
  • “First-line supervisors of production and operating workers,” a job title used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to describe managers in several industries, such as manufacturing and retail
  • “First-line supervisors for office and administrative support workers,” another U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics title, which describes office or administrative managers in industries like manufacturing, transportation, business support or health care
  • Carpenters

Many high-paying jobs that don’t technically require a degree do require apprenticeships. That means they still come with time spent in a classroom and, often, years of on-the-job training.

Apprenticeships in Wisconsin are overseen by the Department of Workforce Development. State standards require apprentices to spend at least 144 hours taking classes related to their profession, usually through a technical college. Employers must also pay an hourly wage for an apprentice’s time learning in the classroom. The state does not require employers to cover tuition or per-credit costs, although many do in exchange for employment commitments.

More: What’s a good paying job in Milwaukee? These are the industries with the highest-paid workers

Cleo Krejci covers higher education, vocational training and retraining as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. Support her work with a tax-deductible donation at bit.ly/RFADonation.



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Wisconsin

Wisconsin former four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer appears headed for transfer portal

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Wisconsin former four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer appears headed for transfer portal


MADISON – It appears that the Wisconsin football team will have almost a completely new quarterback room next season.

Mabrey Mettauer, the last scholarship player left at the position on the roster from this season, is expected to enter the transfer portal, according to 247sports. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound true freshman from The Woodlands, Texas, was a consensus four-star recruit coming out of high school.

This season he served as the top backup to Braedyn Locke after Tyler Van Dyke suffered a season-ending knee injury against Alabama. Mettauer appeared in one game and completed his only pass attempt.

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He maintained his redshirt status and will have four years of eligibility remaining.

Mabrey’s departure was the last domino to fall from the firing of Phil Longo as offensive coordinator. Like Van Dyke and Locke, Mettauer came to Wisconsin with the idea that he would play in Longo’s pass-friendly offense.

Locke’s brother, Landyn, a member of the 2025 recruiting class, was also recruited by Longo. Landyn Locke has been released from his letter of intent and has re-opened his recruitment.

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After 247sports broken the news of Mettauer’s expected departure he reposted the post on his X and Instagram accounts.

The loss of Mettauer means Wisconsin has three scholarship quarterbacks plus walk-on Milos Spasojevic on the roster for next season:

* Billy Edwards Jr., who started this season at Maryland and threw for 2,800 yards. He has one year of eligibility left.

* Danny O’Neil, who started at San Diego State as a true freshman and threw for 2,000 yards this season. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

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* Carter Smith, a four-star prospect from Florida, will enroll early and participate in spring practice.



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14-year-old killed in Wisconsin school shooting shared gifts of music and art with many, friends say

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14-year-old killed in Wisconsin school shooting shared gifts of music and art with many, friends say


MADISON, Wis. — Rubi Patricia Vergara was a talented young teenager who often handcrafted gifts for others and shared her musical talents with many, family friends recounted at funeral services held Saturday morning.

14-year-old killed in Wisconsin school shooting shared gifts of music and art with many, friends say

Vergara, 14, was a student at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where she was shot and killed by a fellow student Monday. Teacher Erin West, 42, was also killed in the attack.

“She was a quiet, gentle spirit who cared deeply for others,” City Church lead pastor Tom Flaherty said. “But Rubi also had a faith beyond her years.”

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Vergara’s services were held at City Church, which is adjacent to the school. West’s funeral is set for Monday at Doxa Church in Madison, according to her obituary.

Two other injured students remained hospitalized Saturday in critical condition but were stable, UW Hospital said.

A family friend, Dawn Moris, spoke about Vergara’s compassion and empathy. Vergara made personalized birthday cards for loved ones with digital artwork, origami and had started crocheting. Moris showed those in the congregation a small crocheted smiley face potato crafted by Vergara.

“She applied a caring and creative approach to everything she did,” Moris said.

Vergara played keyboard in a family worship band and could hear a song and pick it up on the piano, Moris said. As a singer, she had a special talent of harmonizing and “sang like an angel,” Moris said.

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Vergara’s aunt played her niece’s favorite song, “Shoulders” by for King & Country, on the guitar during the service. Her uncle, Andy Remus, thanked the people of Madison for supporting his family this past week.

Police say the shooter, 15-year-old student Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, shot herself at the school and died at a Madison hospital. Police have said she was in contact with a man in California who authorities say was planning to attack a government building. Rupnow’s motivation for the attack remains a key part of their investigation.

Volmert reported from Lansing, Michigan.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

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Teenager accused in Wisconsin school shooting had a tumultuous family life, court documents show

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Teenager accused in Wisconsin school shooting had a tumultuous family life, court documents show


MADISON, Wis. — A 15-year-old girl who police say killed two people and wounded multiple others at a private Christian school in Wisconsin endured what appeared to be a tumultuous home life marked by divorces, custody battles and a series of court-mandated mediation sessions to resolve disputes over her care, according to court documents obtained by NBC News.

Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow married and divorced twice, during which their daughter Natalie Rupnow would at times travel between her parents’ homes every few days and attend therapy.

They married in 2011 and divorced for the first time in 2014, according to court documents.

The two agreed to joint custody of Natalie, but she would live primarily with her mother, the documents state.

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They remarried in 2017, according to their marriage certificate obtained by NBC, but filed for divorce a second time in 2020. Mellissa and Jeff Rupnow again agreed to share custody of Natalie, but this time she would spend “equal time with both parents,” the court documents show. A divorce certificate obtained by NBC News shows their divorce was finalized in 2021.

Natalie Rupnow, who also went by Samantha, shot and killed a teacher and a student and wounded six others during study hall on Monday at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, before dying from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. The victims were identified as Erin M. West, 42, and Rubi P. Vergara, 14.

Two students who sustained life-threatening injuries during the shooting remained in the hospital and the other four injured have been discharged, police said.

The FBI detained Alexander Paffendorf, 20, in California earlier this week and ordered him to temporarily surrender his firearms after he allegedly communicated with Natalie Rupnow. Authorities say Paffendorf admitted to discussing plans with Rupnow to arm himself with explosives and target a government building. The FBI uncovered messages between the two but did not disclose their alleged plans.

Paffendorf and his family could not immediately be reached for comment.

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A makeshift memorial at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., on Dec. 17.Jamie Kelter Davis / New York Times via Redux

The apparent turmoil in Natalie Rupnow’s family life, as documented by court records, offer a glimpse into events that may have shaped her path before Monday’s tragedy.

In 2022, Mellissa and Jeff Rupnow sought mediation for custody of Natalie. That May, Dane County Family Court Services notified the parents of a requirement to attend a “mandatory parent education program via Zoom” due to a “disagreement concerning child custody and/or physical placement.” A month later, according to court documents, Mellissa Rupnow had “been scheduled to attend on June 2nd and June 16, 2022, but did not appear” for the Parent Education Program. Shortly after, the couple was asked to appear for a “mandatory mediation session in person appointment.”

In July 2022, an agreement was reached, granting them joint legal custody of Natalie, who would primarily live with her father, according to court documents. The documents also indicate that the parents agreed to “consider Natalie’s therapist’s recommendations regarding placement” for Natalie during the weekends.

Natalie’s mother agreed to connect with her therapist and “participate in therapy to the extent recommended by the therapist,” according to the court documents. Natalie’s father would make “every effort to schedule therapy appointments” to accommodate the mother’s schedule.

The court documents noted that “the parents report a generally positive co-parenting relationship and will continue to communicate with one another by text messages and phone conversations.”

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Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said the two are “fully cooperating” with investigators, who are still trying to identify a motive and have not released many details on the teenager.

“Identifying a motive is our top priority. But at this time, it appears that the motive was a combination of factors,” Barnes said at a news conference.

Trish Kilpin, the director of Wisconsin’s Office of School Safety, said on Monday that “targeted violence is preventable.”

“When somebody decides to use violence, it’s often to redress an upset or a grievance, and they progress down a pathway towards that violence,” Kilpin said. “And when they do that, they often study previous school shooting incidents.”

A neighbor of Jeff Rupnow’s who spoke to NBC News expressed shock when he learned about the shooting and described Jeff as a “kind person.”

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“He really helped us out,” said the neighbor, who did not want his name used out of fear of publicity about the case. “I know we’re still trying to piece everything together.”

The neighbor indicated he didn’t know Natalie, saying “the very limited things we knew, it’s horrifying for everyone, obviously, and just horrifying for the families of the school and those kids.”

Selina Guevara reported from Madison, and Chloe Atkins and Daniella Silva reported from New York City.



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