← Back to all jobs
Millwright
Skilled TradesYou install, maintain, and repair industrial machinery — turbines, conveyors, presses, and equipment that weighs as much as a house. You're the person they call when a $2 million machine stops working at 2 AM. You need to understand mechanics, hydraulics, pneumatics, and electrical systems, and you need to diagnose problems under pressure from plant managers who are losing $10,000 an hour of downtime.
Salary Range
Low
$42k
Median
$60k
High
$85k
10-Year Growth
average
US Workers
45K
Education
Apprenticeship (4 years) or trade school + millwright certification
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Precision machinery alignment (laser alignment tools)
- ▸Hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical systems repair
- ▸Vibration analysis and predictive maintenance
- ▸Rigging and heavy equipment moving
- ▸Blueprint and technical manual interpretation
- ▸Welding and fabrication
- ▸PLC troubleshooting basics
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Mechanical aptitude
- ▸Diagnostic problem-solving
- ▸Composure under production pressure
- ▸Physical endurance
- ▸Independent decision-making
What you'll actually do
- 01Install and align industrial machinery using precision instruments that measure in thousandths of an inch
- 02Diagnose equipment failures using vibration analysis, thermal imaging, and a trained ear that can hear trouble brewing
- 03Disassemble and rebuild pumps, gearboxes, and motors that weigh more than your car
- 04Read technical manuals for machines made in countries where the instructions were translated... approximately
- 05Perform preventive maintenance on schedule because unplanned downtime costs more than your annual salary per day
- 06Work in factories, power plants, and mills where the noise level requires double ear protection
Related Shifts
Think this could be you?
Take the Career DNA Quiz to see if this role fits your personality.
Take the Quiz