To become a millwright, you'll usually need a high school diploma and a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship. Each year combines at least 144 hours of technical instruction with up to 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. Most programs ask you to be at least 18 and physically able to do the work, and you're fully qualified once you finish.
Millwrights are the people who install, take apart, move and rebuild the heavy machinery in factories, power plants and construction sites. It's a skilled trade with no degree required, and you're paid while you learn. Here's what the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) handbook says about getting in, what it pays and the outlook detail most guides skip, read in October 2026.
Millwright requirements at a glance
| Requirement | What BLS says |
|---|---|
| Education | High school diploma or equivalent; some complete a 2-year associate's degree in industrial maintenance |
| Main route | A 3- or 4-year apprenticeship |
| Each apprenticeship year | At least 144 hours of technical instruction and up to 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training |
| Entry rules | Minimum age of 18, high school diploma or equivalent, physically able to do the work |
| Who runs programs | Employers, local unions, contractor associations and the state labor department |
How to become a millwright, step by step
- Finish high school. A diploma or equivalent is the baseline for both the job and an apprenticeship.
- Consider an industrial maintenance course. BLS says some millwrights complete a 2-year associate's degree covering welding, mathematics, hydraulics and pneumatics. It isn't required, but it helps you stand out.
- Find an apprenticeship. Look at employers, local unions, contractor associations and your state labor department, as BLS says they often run the programs.
- Learn on the job and in class. On the job you'll set up, clean, lubricate, repair and start machinery. In class you'll cover welding, mathematics, blueprint reading and machinery troubleshooting, and many apprentices get computer training too.
- Finish and step up. After the apprenticeship, BLS says millwrights are considered fully qualified and can work with less guidance.
What millwrights do
BLS groups millwrights with industrial machinery mechanics and machinery maintenance workers, but the jobs differ. Mechanics and maintenance workers keep machines running. Millwrights install, dismantle, repair, reassemble and move machinery. Across the group, typical duties include:
- reading technical manuals to understand equipment and controls
- taking machinery apart when there's a problem and replacing broken parts
- running tests and initial batches to check a machine runs smoothly
- adjusting and calibrating equipment to specification
- cleaning and lubricating machinery
- moving machinery and equipment
Most of the work happens in manufacturing facilities. Overtime is common across the group, particularly for mechanics, and some workers are on call for night or weekend shifts.
What millwrights earn
As of October 2026, BLS gives a median annual wage of $65,700 for millwrights in May 2025, the highest of the three jobs in the group:
| Occupation (US, May 2025) | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Millwrights | $65,700 |
| Industrial machinery mechanics | $64,520 |
| Maintenance workers, machinery | $60,850 |
Across the whole group the lowest 10% earned less than $45,760 and the highest 10% more than $94,530, and manufacturing paid the most of the top industries at $65,220, ahead of construction at $63,870.
The outlook detail most guides miss
Here's the catch. BLS projects the whole group to grow 14% from 2025 to 2035, with about 51,900 openings a year. But almost all of that growth is in industrial machinery mechanics. Millwrights on their own are barely growing:
| Occupation | Jobs in 2025 | Projected jobs in 2035 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial machinery mechanics | 446,900 | 526,600 | 18 |
| Millwrights | 40,700 | 41,000 | 1 |
| Maintenance workers, machinery | 59,700 | 58,600 | -2 |
BLS says millwright employment is held back by slower growth in industries such as paper mills, and by new nonresidential buildings being less likely to need a millwright. Automated conveyors and factory machinery, on the other hand, are driving demand for mechanics who keep them running.
So the smart move is to train in a way that keeps both doors open. The millwright apprenticeship teaches the same core skills of welding, blueprints and troubleshooting, and the higher median pay rewards you for it, but don't ignore mechanic roles when you're job hunting.
The qualities BLS says you'll need
- Manual dexterity: a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination for very small parts
- Mechanical skills: using technical manuals and diagnostic equipment to work out why a machine has stopped, then reassembling large, complex machines after a repair
- Troubleshooting: observing, diagnosing and fixing whatever a machine is doing wrong
Mechanics in the group also commonly use lathes, grinders and drill presses as well as hand tools, and many are required to weld. If you're choosing between apprenticeship offers, ask which machines you'll be trained on, because that's what decides how employable you are at the end.
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Skills that carry over
Welding is part of the training and many mechanics are required to weld, so my guide on how to become a welder is a useful companion. If installing and maintaining lifts appeals, becoming an elevator mechanic is another apprenticeship-led trade with a similar mix of mechanical and electrical work.
My verdict
Millwright is a strong paid-to-learn trade: no degree, a structured apprenticeship and the best median pay in its group. The honest downside is that millwright jobs themselves are flat, so go in with your eyes open. Get the apprenticeship, build your welding and troubleshooting skills, and be ready to work as an industrial machinery mechanic, where the growth is.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a millwright?
Most millwrights complete a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship, according to BLS, with at least 144 hours of technical instruction and up to 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year.
Do you need a degree to be a millwright?
No. BLS says millwrights generally need a high school diploma or equivalent, though some complete a 2-year associate's degree in industrial maintenance.
How much do millwrights make?
As of October 2026, BLS gives a median annual wage of $65,700 for millwrights (May 2025 data).
Is millwright a growing job?
Slowly. BLS projects millwright jobs to rise from 40,700 to 41,000 between 2025 and 2035, while industrial machinery mechanics grow much faster.
What is the difference between a millwright and an industrial mechanic?
BLS says millwrights install, dismantle, repair, reassemble and move machinery, while industrial machinery mechanics keep machines in working order by finding and fixing faults.
