Therefore, less and less people are learning the valuable skills needed to provide some services. So, before you enroll in a four year degree program because you think that is your only option, consider apprenticeship programs or technical colleges. These types of programs are often much cheaper than the four year alternative and offer more hands-on training. For example, Madison Area Technical College's Biotechnology Program is a fraction of the cost of a UW degree, but many of the MATC graduates start at pay rates higher than those of UW lab science graduates. This is the case for skilled machine shop positions.
Experienced machinists are very much in demand in the Madison area.
Students in their third or fourth semester of MATC's program often have a position lined up and waiting for them after graduation. Again, this is a field that has very good earning potential. Overall, it is important to consider what you would really like to do for a living. If you would like to be a cabinetmaker just like your father, you owe yourself a chance to do what will make you happy. Sometimes this might require a bit of explaining on your part.