← All careers

Skilled Trades

Millwrights

Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.

Median salary (BLS)

$65,700

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$46k – $94k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Millwrights

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Millwrights" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Millwrights

    Entry / Junior

    $46,290

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Millwrights

    Established

    $65,700

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Millwrights

    Senior

    $79,650

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

Explore all

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.