Updated 2025 · Industrial
How to Become a Millwright
Millwrights install, maintain, and repair industrial machinery and equipment in factories, power plants, and construction sites.
Steps to Become a Millwright
- Meet basic requirements — You must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED. A strong foundation in math, physics, and shop classes helps.
- Apply to an apprenticeship program — Millwright apprenticeships last 4 years and combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Apply through your local union (IBEW, UA, etc.) or a non-union contractor program. You earn while you learn from day one.
- Complete required training — Complete 8000 hours of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction.
- Earn certifications — Required certifications include: Millwright certification (NCCER or union), Welding certifications, OSHA 10/30-Hour, Rigging and machinery moving certifications.
- Pass the journeyman exam — After completing your apprenticeship, pass the journeyman licensing exam in your state to earn full journeyman status and pay.
What Does a Millwright Do?
Millwrights install, maintain, and repair industrial machinery and equipment in factories, power plants, and construction sites.
Daily Duties
- Install and align industrial machinery
- Read blueprints and schematic diagrams
- Disassemble and reassemble machinery for maintenance
- Use precision measuring instruments to align equipment
- Troubleshoot mechanical and hydraulic systems
Skills Needed
- Precision alignment
- Hydraulics and pneumatics
- Welding
- Blueprint reading
- Bearing and gear replacement
Required Certifications
- Millwright certification (NCCER or union)
- Welding certifications
- OSHA 10/30-Hour
- Rigging and machinery moving certifications
Millwright Salary (2025)
The national median millwright salary is $65,704 per year. Pay ranges from $52,455 in the lowest-paying metro to $90,696 in the highest-paying metro. See the full millwright salary breakdown by city.
Apprentice Pay Progression
Millwright apprentices earn while they learn, starting at approximately 40% of journeyman pay:
| Year | % of Journeyman | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 40% | $26,282 |
| Year 2 | 57% | $37,451 |
| Year 3 | 73% | $47,964 |
| Year 4 | 90% | $59,134 |
| Journeyman | 100% | $65,704 |
Union vs Non-Union Millwright Pay
Union millwrights earn 30% more than non-union workers — $36.20/hour union vs $27.85/hour non-union. Approximately 28.7% of millwrights are union members. See the full union vs non-union comparison.
Work Environment
Millwrights work in factories, power plants, and construction sites. Work involves heavy lifting, confined spaces, and travel to remote job sites.
Career Outlook
Steady demand for maintaining aging industrial equipment. Automation and robotics are creating new millwright specialties.
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for a millwright is $65,704 per year (2025 BLS data). Pay ranges from $52,455 to $90,696 depending on location, with top earners in the 90th percentile making significantly more.
It takes 4 years to complete a millwright apprenticeship. During this time, you earn while you learn — starting at approximately 40-50% of journeyman wages and receiving annual raises.
No college degree is required to become a millwright. The primary path is through an apprenticeship program or trade school. You will need to earn specific certifications: Millwright certification (NCCER or union) and Welding certifications.
Millwright earns a Trade Pay Score grade of C, meaning it rates moderately on pay relative to cost of living, wage growth, and demand. Steady demand for maintaining aging industrial equipment. Automation and robotics are creating new millwright specialties.
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