Millwrights Career, Salary and Skills
Millwrights have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $65,700 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 40,330. Wage data is published for 187 locations.
Occupation description
Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.
O*NET code
49-9044.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$65,700
Hourly median
$31.59
Employment
40,330
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Installation | 3.75 | 3.38 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.62 | 3.00 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Repairing | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Operation and Control | 3.38 | 3.62 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Time Management | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Replace defective parts of machine, or adjust clearances and alignment of moving parts.
Technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Millwrights salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Millwrights Salary in TXMedian $62,630 · Employment 3,540
- Millwrights Salary in MIMedian $89,190 · Employment 2,900
- Millwrights Salary in CAMedian $77,950 · Employment 2,230
- Millwrights Salary in ILMedian $66,640 · Employment 2,160
- Millwrights Salary in OHMedian $73,220 · Employment 1,930
- Millwrights Salary in GAMedian $62,760 · Employment 1,780
- Millwrights Salary in INMedian $77,140 · Employment 1,760
- Millwrights Salary in PAMedian $64,410 · Employment 1,700
- Millwrights Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $74,730 · Employment 1,490
- Millwrights Salary in Detroit, MIMedian $91,850 · Employment 1,490
- Millwrights Salary in ALMedian $61,410 · Employment 1,400
- Millwrights Salary in MSMedian $58,280 · Employment 1,280
Related careers
- Robotics TechniciansNational median $73,900
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation EquipmentNational median $84,890
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $52,800
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsNational median $59,850
- RiggersNational median $62,640
- Maintenance Workers, MachineryNational median $60,850
- Electromechanical Equipment AssemblersNational median not published
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related RepairersNational median $56,210
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.