How To Become A Millwright: What It Is and Career Path

What is a millwright and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A millwright installs, maintains, and repairs machinery in industrial settings. They work with heavy machinery, such as conveyor systems, turbines, and generators. Millwrights use hand and power tools, welding equipment, and precision measuring devices to ensure proper installation and peak performance. They may also design new machinery or modify existing equipment to improve efficiency. Millwrights often work in manufacturing plants, power plants, and industrial facilities, and must be able to work independently or collaboratively.

ScoreMillwrightUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $51,176

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.0

Growth Rate 14%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.54%

Asian 1.08%

Black or African American 3.54%

Hispanic or Latino 8.28%

Unknown 5.15%

White 81.41%

Gender

female 3.42%

male 96.58%

Age - 50

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50

Stress Level

8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.9

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

1.1

Work Life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Millwright?

Pros

High demand for skilled millwrights
Good pay and benefits
Opportunities for advancement and specialization
Job security in industries that require maintenance and repair
Can lead to careers in related fields such as engineering or management

Cons

May need to work long or irregular hours, including weekends and holidays
Can involve travel or being away from home for extended periods of time
Exposure to hazardous materials or chemicals
Can be challenging to balance work with personal life due to irregular schedules or call-ins
Limited job opportunities in certain regions or industries

Key steps to become a millwright

Explore millwright education requirements

Most common millwright degrees

High School Diploma

45.1 %

Associate

22.0 %

Diploma

12.6 %

Start to develop specific millwright skills

Skills	Percentages
Hand Tools	14.52%
Hoists	7.94%
Dismantle	7.80%
Work Ethic	4.53%
Cranes	4.47%

Complete relevant millwright training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 4-10 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New millwrights learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a millwright based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real millwright resumes.

Gain additional millwright certifications

Millwright certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific millwright certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for millwrights include EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) and Rigging Equipment Inspector.

More About Certifications

Research millwright duties and responsibilities

Used cranes, fork trucks, hoist pulleys, dollies and rollers to complete job properly and effectively.
Transport machine parts, tools, equipment and other material between work areas and storage using cranes, hoists or dollies.
Operate machine tools such as lathes and grinders to fabricate parts require during overhaul, maintenance or set-up of machinery.
Advance drafting and cnc programming.

Prepare your millwright resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your millwright resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a millwright resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Millwright Resume templates

Build a professional Millwright resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Millwright resume.

Apply for millwright jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a millwright job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do millwrights rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Millwright reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019

Pros

I like the technicality, reasoning and the calculative nature of the job

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Cons

Any other non-specialized need