Millwrights salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,290 | $22.25 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $65,700 | $31.59 |
| Mean (average) | $69,780 | $33.55 |
| 90th percentile | $93,600 | $45.00 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Millwrights pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 48 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,410 | $45,300 | $76,070 | 1,400 | 2.56 |
| Alaska | $76,940 | $54,270 | $92,350 | 300 | 3.6 |
| Arizona | $57,380 | $39,560 | $108,050 | 450 | 0.53 |
| Arkansas | $56,310 | $36,640 | $76,140 | 1,140 | 3.36 |
| California | $77,950 | $49,340 | $127,890 | 2,230 | 0.47 |
| Colorado | $81,440 | $51,000 | $94,420 | 200 | 0.26 |
| Connecticut | $76,810 | $39,120 | $95,970 | 110 | 0.24 |
| Delaware | $58,770 | $40,280 | $110,830 | 90 | 0.69 |
| Florida | $62,000 | $45,700 | $88,820 | 530 | 0.21 |
| Georgia | $62,760 | $46,450 | $78,980 | 1,780 | 1.41 |
| Idaho | $64,710 | $57,000 | $77,460 | 410 | 1.85 |
| Illinois | $66,640 | $44,490 | $105,940 | 2,160 | 1.37 |
| Indiana | $77,140 | $48,600 | $95,960 | 1,760 | 2.12 |
| Iowa | $62,220 | $47,050 | $79,710 | 690 | 1.71 |
| Kansas | $79,690 | $44,880 | $97,340 | 840 | 2.24 |
| Kentucky | $70,610 | $48,210 | $86,640 | 1,220 | 2.34 |
| Louisiana | $66,080 | $48,300 | $82,450 | 1,080 | 2.15 |
| Maine | $68,220 | $51,030 | $87,130 | 350 | 2.08 |
| Maryland | $59,220 | $50,660 | $81,890 | 160 | 0.23 |
| Massachusetts | $65,220 | $57,870 | $78,610 | ||
| Michigan | $89,190 | $58,680 | $97,460 | 2,900 | 2.54 |
| Minnesota | $78,570 | $58,500 | $92,640 | 480 | 0.63 |
| Mississippi | $58,280 | $41,250 | $71,560 | 1,280 | 4.23 |
| Missouri | $66,480 | $48,880 | $93,950 | 830 | 1.09 |
| Montana | $60,050 | $52,120 | $73,890 | 70 | 0.52 |
| Nebraska | $60,320 | $47,480 | $74,510 | 590 | 2.22 |
| Nevada | $63,040 | $58,910 | $92,430 | 150 | 0.37 |
| New Hampshire | $76,190 | $62,320 | $87,430 | 80 | 0.46 |
| New Jersey | $107,540 | $61,830 | $145,320 | 340 | 0.3 |
| New Mexico | $90,230 | $82,000 | $102,250 | 60 | 0.27 |
| New York | $79,560 | $58,750 | $97,200 | 1,000 | 0.4 |
| North Carolina | $62,990 | $46,920 | $76,690 | 700 | 0.55 |
| North Dakota | $60,750 | $50,810 | $82,590 | 170 | 1.5 |
| Ohio | $73,220 | $51,880 | $91,760 | 1,930 | 1.34 |
| Oklahoma | $50,950 | $50,790 | $72,150 | 510 | 1.15 |
| Oregon | $70,700 | $45,470 | $110,450 | 460 | 0.89 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,410 | $48,740 | $101,760 | 1,700 | 1.08 |
| South Carolina | $61,700 | $40,060 | $83,260 | 950 | 1.59 |
| South Dakota | $61,820 | $50,790 | $74,600 | 240 | 2.05 |
| Tennessee | $61,810 | $45,100 | $75,880 | 1,060 | 1.25 |
| Texas | $62,630 | $38,510 | $92,490 | 3,540 | 0.97 |
| Utah | $63,040 | $47,430 | $84,210 | 220 | 0.48 |
| Vermont | $64,180 | $50,680 | $79,320 | 60 | 0.7 |
| Virginia | $51,430 | $42,730 | $82,010 | 690 | 0.65 |
| Washington | $76,490 | $61,350 | $129,370 | 1,020 | 1.11 |
| West Virginia | $67,270 | $49,120 | $82,910 | 330 | 1.8 |
| Wisconsin | $82,630 | $57,530 | $93,280 | 1,220 | 1.6 |
| Wyoming | $62,780 | $45,320 | $84,270 | 130 | 1.82 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for millwrights
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for millwrights
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Replace defective parts of machine, or adjust clearances and alignment of moving parts.
- Align machines or equipment, using hoists, jacks, hand tools, squares, rules, micrometers, lasers, or plumb bobs.
- Insert shims, adjust tension on nuts and bolts, or position parts, using hand tools and measuring instruments, to set specified clearances between moving and stationary parts.
- Signal crane operator to lower basic assembly units to bedplate, and align unit to centerline.
- Conduct preventative maintenance and repair, and lubricate machines and equipment.
- Assemble and install equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- Assemble machines, and bolt, weld, rivet, or otherwise fasten them to foundation or other structures, using hand tools and power tools.
- Move machinery and equipment, using hoists, dollies, rollers, and trucks.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Installation, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Operations Monitoring, Repairing, Operation and Control.
Common job titles: Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance Millwright, Millwright, Millwright Business Representative (Millwright Business Rep), Millwright Foreman, Millwright General Foreman, Millwright Instructor, Precision Millwright.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do millwrights make?
The national median annual wage for millwrights was $65,700 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $46,290 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $93,600. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do millwrights need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and apprenticeship on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is millwrights a growing career?
BLS projects employment of millwrights to change +0.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay millwrights the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Jersey ($107,540), New Mexico ($90,230), Michigan ($89,190). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.