Millwrights
Millwrights (SOC 49-9044) earn a median $65,700 a year ($31.59 an hour) in the United States, with 40,330 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New Jersey.
What millwrights do
Millwrights install, take apart or relocate machinery and heavy equipment following layout plans, blueprints or other drawings. They assemble machines and bolt, weld, rivet or otherwise fasten them to foundations or other structures, and assemble and install equipment with hand tools and power tools. To set up a machine they signal the crane operator to lower basic assembly units onto the bedplate and align each unit to the centerline, aligning machines and equipment with hoists, jacks, hand tools, squares, rules, micrometers, lasers or plumb bobs. Shims are inserted, nut and bolt tension is adjusted and parts are positioned to set the specified clearances between moving and stationary parts, and defective parts are replaced. Millwrights also conduct preventive maintenance and repair, lubricate machines and equipment, and move machinery with hoists, dollies, rollers and trucks. Titles include industrial millwright, construction millwright and automated equipment technician.
Typical entry: Most workers in this occupation report a high school diploma or equivalent as their level of education, according to O*NET.
Also called: Automated Equipment Engineer, Automated Equipment Engineering Technician (Automated Equipment Engineering Tech), Automated Equipment Technician (Automated Equipment Tech), Automobile Equipment Engineer Technician (Auto Equipment Engineer Tech), Automobile Equipment Technician Engineer (Auto Equipment Tech Engineer).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.25 | $27.11 | $31.59 | $39.18 | $45.00 | $33.55 | 40,330 |
| Annual | $46,290 | $56,390 | $65,700 | $81,500 | $93,600 | $69,780 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where millwrights earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $29.73 | $35.50 | $51.70 | $60.73 | $69.87 | $48.63 | 340 | 0.08 | 0.30 |
| Annual | $61,830 | $73,840 | $107,540 | $126,320 | $145,320 | $101,150 | ||||
| New Mexico | Hourly | $39.42 | $42.00 | $43.38 | $48.87 | $49.16 | $44.42 | 60 | 0.07 | 0.27 |
| Annual | $82,000 | $87,360 | $90,230 | $101,650 | $102,250 | $92,390 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $28.21 | $35.87 | $42.88 | $44.38 | $46.86 | $39.82 | 2,900 | 0.66 | 2.54 |
| Annual | $58,680 | $74,610 | $89,190 | $92,300 | $97,460 | $82,820 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $27.66 | $30.10 | $39.73 | $43.62 | $44.85 | $37.15 | 1,220 | 0.42 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $57,530 | $62,610 | $82,630 | $90,730 | $93,280 | $77,280 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $24.52 | $32.38 | $39.15 | $40.19 | $45.40 | $35.91 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.26 |
| Annual | $51,000 | $67,340 | $81,440 | $83,600 | $94,420 | $74,690 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $18.52 | $23.35 | $30.11 | $36.38 | $44.47 | $30.69 | 3,540 | 0.25 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $38,510 | $48,560 | $62,630 | $75,670 | $92,490 | $63,840 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $28.21 | $35.87 | $42.88 | $44.38 | $46.86 | $39.82 | 2,900 | 0.66 | 2.54 |
| Annual | $58,680 | $74,610 | $89,190 | $92,300 | $97,460 | $82,820 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $23.72 | $29.47 | $37.48 | $52.49 | $61.48 | $40.49 | 2,230 | 0.12 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $49,340 | $61,310 | $77,950 | $109,190 | $127,890 | $84,220 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $21.39 | $23.86 | $32.04 | $40.94 | $50.93 | $33.91 | 2,160 | 0.36 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $44,490 | $49,620 | $66,640 | $85,150 | $105,940 | $70,530 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $24.94 | $28.78 | $35.20 | $40.04 | $44.12 | $34.51 | 1,930 | 0.35 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $51,880 | $59,860 | $73,220 | $83,280 | $91,760 | $71,780 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $23.72 | $34.33 | $54.56 | $61.63 | $71.83 | $50.01 | 320 | 0.13 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $49,330 | $71,400 | $113,490 | $128,180 | $149,400 | $104,030 | ||||
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | Hourly | $30.16 | $49.81 | $51.78 | $56.57 | $62.38 | $49.43 | 80 | 0.62 | 2.39 |
| Annual | $62,720 | $103,610 | $107,700 | $117,670 | $129,740 | $102,810 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $24.22 | $30.18 | $47.72 | $60.43 | $63.16 | $44.46 | 710 | 0.11 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $50,390 | $62,770 | $99,250 | $125,690 | $131,380 | $92,470 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $29.06 | $35.52 | $44.75 | $55.60 | $63.52 | $45.79 | 440 | 0.05 | 0.18 |
| Annual | $60,430 | $73,880 | $93,070 | $115,640 | $132,120 | $95,250 | ||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $37.31 | $39.56 | $44.16 | $44.60 | $45.45 | $42.50 | 1,490 | 0.78 | 3.02 |
| Annual | $77,610 | $82,280 | $91,850 | $92,770 | $94,530 | $88,400 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $23.19 | $25.86 | $35.93 | $45.00 | $55.09 | $36.79 | 1,490 | 0.33 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $48,230 | $53,800 | $74,730 | $93,610 | $114,590 | $76,530 | ||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $37.31 | $39.56 | $44.16 | $44.60 | $45.45 | $42.50 | 1,490 | 0.78 | 3.02 |
| Annual | $77,610 | $82,280 | $91,850 | $92,770 | $94,530 | $88,400 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $22.19 | $28.15 | $32.57 | $41.64 | $49.77 | $34.69 | 820 | 0.25 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $46,160 | $58,540 | $67,750 | $86,610 | $103,510 | $72,140 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $24.22 | $30.18 | $47.72 | $60.43 | $63.16 | $44.46 | 710 | 0.11 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $50,390 | $62,770 | $99,250 | $125,690 | $131,380 | $92,470 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $21.42 | $22.40 | $31.49 | $38.12 | $44.47 | $31.77 | 640 | 0.16 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $44,550 | $46,590 | $65,500 | $79,290 | $92,490 | $66,080 | ||||
Top industries employing millwrights
Building Equipment Contractors employ 24.6% of millwrights nationally (9,930 jobs) at a median $65,220 a year ($31.36 an hour), followed by Nonresidential Building Construction (12.7%) and Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance (7.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 9,930 | 24.6% | $65,220 | $31.36 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction NAICS 236200 | 5,110 | 12.7% | $61,820 | $29.72 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811300 | 3,140 | 7.8% | $62,640 | $30.12 |
| Sawmills and Wood Preservation NAICS 321100 | 2,720 | 6.7% | $62,760 | $30.17 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 1,610 | 4.0% | $53,000 | $25.48 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (40,330). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $60,330 for millwrights in May 2021 and $65,700 in May 2025, with employment of 39,240 and 40,330.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $60,330 | $29.00 | 39,240 |
| May 2022 | $60,930 | $29.29 | 40,930 |
| May 2023 | $62,980 | $30.28 | 37,930 |
| May 2024 | $65,170 | $31.33 | 40,660 |
| May 2025 | $65,700 | $31.59 | 40,330 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
48 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey profile | $51.70 | $107,540 | $61,830 | $145,320 | 340 | 0.08 | 0.30 |
| 2 | New Mexico profile | $43.38 | $90,230 | $82,000 | $102,250 | 60 | 0.07 | 0.27 |
| 3 | Michigan profile | $42.88 | $89,190 | $58,680 | $97,460 | 2,900 | 0.66 | 2.54 |
| 4 | Wisconsin profile | $39.73 | $82,630 | $57,530 | $93,280 | 1,220 | 0.42 | 1.60 |
| 5 | Colorado profile | $39.15 | $81,440 | $51,000 | $94,420 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.26 |
| 6 | Kansas profile | $38.31 | $79,690 | $44,880 | $97,340 | 840 | 0.58 | 2.24 |
| 7 | New York profile | $38.25 | $79,560 | $58,750 | $97,200 | 1,000 | 0.10 | 0.40 |
| 8 | Minnesota profile | $37.77 | $78,570 | $58,500 | $92,640 | 480 | 0.16 | 0.63 |
| 9 | California profile | $37.48 | $77,950 | $49,340 | $127,890 | 2,230 | 0.12 | 0.47 |
| 10 | Indiana profile | $37.09 | $77,140 | $48,600 | $95,960 | 1,760 | 0.55 | 2.12 |
| 11 | Alaska profile | $36.99 | $76,940 | $54,270 | $92,350 | 300 | 0.93 | 3.60 |
| 12 | Connecticut profile | $36.93 | $76,810 | $39,120 | $95,970 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.24 |
| 13 | Washington profile | $36.77 | $76,490 | $61,350 | $129,370 | 1,020 | 0.29 | 1.11 |
| 14 | New Hampshire profile | $36.63 | $76,190 | $62,320 | $87,430 | 80 | 0.12 | 0.46 |
| 15 | Ohio profile | $35.20 | $73,220 | $51,880 | $91,760 | 1,930 | 0.35 | 1.34 |
| 16 | Oregon profile | $33.99 | $70,700 | $45,470 | $110,450 | 460 | 0.23 | 0.89 |
| 17 | Kentucky profile | $33.95 | $70,610 | $48,210 | $86,640 | 1,220 | 0.61 | 2.34 |
| 18 | Maine profile | $32.80 | $68,220 | $51,030 | $87,130 | 350 | 0.54 | 2.08 |
| 19 | West Virginia profile | $32.34 | $67,270 | $49,120 | $82,910 | 330 | 0.47 | 1.80 |
| 20 | Illinois profile | $32.04 | $66,640 | $44,490 | $105,940 | 2,160 | 0.36 | 1.37 |
| 21 | Missouri profile | $31.96 | $66,480 | $48,880 | $93,950 | 830 | 0.28 | 1.09 |
| 22 | Louisiana profile | $31.77 | $66,080 | $48,300 | $82,450 | 1,080 | 0.56 | 2.15 |
| 23 | Massachusetts profile | $31.36 | $65,220 | $57,870 | $78,610 | ** | ** | ** |
| 24 | Idaho profile | $31.11 | $64,710 | $57,000 | $77,460 | 410 | 0.48 | 1.85 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania profile | $30.96 | $64,410 | $48,740 | $101,760 | 1,700 | 0.28 | 1.08 |
| 26 | Vermont profile | $30.86 | $64,180 | $50,680 | $79,320 | 60 | 0.18 | 0.70 |
| 27 | Nevada profile | $30.31 | $63,040 | $58,910 | $92,430 | 150 | 0.10 | 0.37 |
| 28 | Utah profile | $30.31 | $63,040 | $47,430 | $84,210 | 220 | 0.13 | 0.48 |
| 29 | North Carolina profile | $30.29 | $62,990 | $46,920 | $76,690 | 700 | 0.14 | 0.55 |
| 30 | Wyoming profile | $30.18 | $62,780 | $45,320 | $84,270 | 130 | 0.47 | 1.82 |
| 31 | Georgia profile | $30.17 | $62,760 | $46,450 | $78,980 | 1,780 | 0.37 | 1.41 |
| 32 | Texas profile | $30.11 | $62,630 | $38,510 | $92,490 | 3,540 | 0.25 | 0.97 |
| 33 | Iowa profile | $29.91 | $62,220 | $47,050 | $79,710 | 690 | 0.45 | 1.71 |
| 34 | Florida profile | $29.81 | $62,000 | $45,700 | $88,820 | 530 | 0.05 | 0.21 |
| 35 | South Dakota profile | $29.72 | $61,820 | $50,790 | $74,600 | 240 | 0.53 | 2.05 |
| 36 | Tennessee profile | $29.72 | $61,810 | $45,100 | $75,880 | 1,060 | 0.32 | 1.25 |
| 37 | South Carolina profile | $29.66 | $61,700 | $40,060 | $83,260 | 950 | 0.41 | 1.59 |
| 38 | Alabama profile | $29.52 | $61,410 | $45,300 | $76,070 | 1,400 | 0.66 | 2.56 |
| 39 | North Dakota profile | $29.21 | $60,750 | $50,810 | $82,590 | 170 | 0.39 | 1.50 |
| 40 | Nebraska profile | $29.00 | $60,320 | $47,480 | $74,510 | 590 | 0.58 | 2.22 |
| 41 | Montana profile | $28.87 | $60,050 | $52,120 | $73,890 | 70 | 0.13 | 0.52 |
| 42 | Maryland profile | $28.47 | $59,220 | $50,660 | $81,890 | 160 | 0.06 | 0.23 |
| 43 | Delaware profile | $28.25 | $58,770 | $40,280 | $110,830 | 90 | 0.18 | 0.69 |
| 44 | Mississippi profile | $28.02 | $58,280 | $41,250 | $71,560 | 1,280 | 1.10 | 4.23 |
| 45 | Arizona profile | $27.59 | $57,380 | $39,560 | $108,050 | 450 | 0.14 | 0.53 |
| 46 | Arkansas profile | $27.07 | $56,310 | $36,640 | $76,140 | 1,140 | 0.87 | 3.36 |
| 47 | Virginia profile | $24.73 | $51,430 | $42,730 | $82,010 | 690 | 0.17 | 0.65 |
| 48 | Oklahoma profile | $24.50 | $50,950 | $50,790 | $72,150 | 510 | 0.30 | 1.15 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-9040), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-9044 Millwrights.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-9044, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-9044.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.