In short
Most millwrights learn through an apprenticeship of about four years that combines paid work with classes in blueprint reading, rigging, welding, hydraulics and precision alignment. Millwrights earned a median $65,700 in May 2025, per BLS. Openings are steady but small, about 3,200 a year, and many are in manufacturing, power generation and industrial construction.
| Middle pay | $65,700 a year, roughly $31.59 an hour (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| How most people start | High school or GED to start, then apprenticeship |
| People in the trade | About 40,700 nationwide (2025) |
| Growth to 2035 | BLS expects 0.9% growth |
| Openings a year | Around 3,200, counting retirements |
From the BLS Employment Projections table (2025 to 2035) and May 2025 wage survey. These are U.S. numbers. Local shops may pay above or below them, and apprentices start well under the middle figure.
Core skills
- Rigging and moving heavy equipment safely
- Laser and dial indicator shaft alignment
- Reading mechanical drawings
- Welding and cutting
- Hydraulics, pneumatics and bearings
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Straight answers
How long does it take to become a millwright?
About four years through an apprenticeship.
What is the difference between a millwright and a maintenance mechanic?
Millwrights focus on installing, moving and aligning machinery; maintenance mechanics focus on keeping it running day to day. The jobs overlap.
Is millwright a union trade?
Many millwrights belong to carpenters union millwright locals, but non-union millwrights work too.