Millwrights

Summary

Millwrights install, dismantle, or move machinery in factories, powerplants, and construction sites.

Quick Facts: Millwrights
2010 Median Pay	$48,360 per year $23.25 per hour
Entry-Level Education	High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Long-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010	36,500
Job Outlook, 2010-20	-5% (Decline moderately)
Employment Change, 2010-20	-1,800

What Millwrights Do

Millwrights install, dismantle, repair, reassemble, and move machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites.

Work Environment

Because millwrights work in production facilities and construction sites, minor injuries such as cuts, bruises, and strains are common. Millwrights are typically employed on a contract basis and may spend only a few days or weeks at a single site. As a result, workers often have variable schedules and may experience downtime between jobs.

How to Become a Millwright

Millwrights typically go through a formal apprenticeship program that lasts about 4 years. Programs are usually a combination of technical instruction and on-the-job training. Others learn their trade through a 2-year associate’s degree program in industrial maintenance.

Pay

The median hourly wage of millwrights was $23.25 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of millwrights is expected to decline 5 percent from 2010 to 2020. Despite declining employment, job opportunities should be good for those with a broad set of skills in machine maintenance.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of millwrights with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about millwrights by contacting these additional resources.

What Millwrights Do About this section

Millwrights replace defective parts of machinery in factories, as needed.

Millwrights install, dismantle, repair, reassemble, and move machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites.

Duties

Millwrights typically do the following:

• Read highly technical instructions and blueprints on machinery
• Install or repair machinery and equipment
• Adjust and align moving parts
• Replace defective parts of machinery as needed
• Take apart existing machinery to clear floor space for new machinery
• Move machinery and equipment

Millwrights are highly skilled workers. Putting together a machine can take a few days or several weeks. Millwrights need to have a good understanding of how the machine works so that they can repair it when it breaks down. Repair includes replacing, as needed, worn or defective parts of the machinery.

Millwrights also may be involved in taking apart existing machines, a common situation when a manufacturing plant needs to clear floor space for new machinery. Breaking down a machine is usually as complicated as putting it together. Each part must be carefully taken apart, categorized, and packaged for shipping.

Millwrights use a variety of handtools, such as hammers and levels, as well as equipment for welding, brazing, and cutting. They also use measuring tools, such as micrometers, levels, measuring tapes, lasers, and other precision-measuring devices. On large projects, they commonly use cranes and trucks. When millwrights and managers determine the best place for a machine, millwrights bring the parts to the desired location using forklifts, hoists, winches, cranes, and other equipment.

Work Environment About this section

Millwrights work in production facilities and at construction sites.

Millwrights held about 36,500 jobs in 2010. Most worked at factories, power plants, and constructions sites. Many millwrights belong to a union.

The industries that employed the most millwrights in 2010 were as follows:

Injuries

In production facilities, millwrights are subject to common shop injuries, such as cuts, bruises, and strains. In a construction setting, workers must be careful of heavy equipment. They also may work in awkward positions, including on top of ladders, or in cramped conditions under large machinery, both of which add to their risk of injury. To avoid injuries, workers must follow safety precautions and use protective equipment, such as hardhats, safety glasses, steel-toed shoes, and earplugs.

Work Schedules

Millwrights typically are employed on a contract basis and may spend only a few days or weeks at a single site. As a result, workers often have variable schedules and may experience downtime between jobs.

How to Become a Millwright About this section

The majority of millwrights complete a formal apprenticeship program, lasting about 4 years.

Millwrights typically go through a formal apprenticeship program that lasts about 4 years. Programs are usually a combination of technical instruction and on-the-job training. Others learn their trade through a 2-year associate’s degree program in industrial maintenance. A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical education needed to become a millwright.

Training

Most millwrights learn their trade through a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship. For each year of the program, apprentices must have at least 144 hours of related technical instruction and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. On the job, apprentices learn to set up, clean, lubricate, repair, and start machinery. During technical instruction, they are taught mathematics, how to read blueprints, welding, electronics, and pneumatics (using air pressure). Many also receive computer training. 

After completing an apprenticeship program, millwrights are considered fully qualified and can usually perform tasks with less guidance. 

Apprenticeship programs are often sponsored by employers, local unions, contractor associations, and the state labor department. The basic qualifications for entering an apprenticeship program are as follows:

• Minimum age of 18
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Physically able to do the work

Millwrights typically receive on-the-job training lasting a few months to 1 year. During training, they perform routine tasks such as setting up, cleaning, lubricating, and starting machinery. This training may be offered by experienced workers, professional trainers, or representatives of equipment manufacturers.

Education

A high school diploma is the typical education needed to become a millwright. However, several 2-year associate’s degree programs in industrial maintenance also provide good preparation for prospective millwrights. Some employers offer onsite classroom training or send workers to local technical schools while they get on-the-job training. Classroom instruction focuses on subjects such as shop mathematics, how to read blueprints, welding, electronics, and computer training.

Important Qualities

Mechanical aptitude. Millwrights must be able to use a variety of tools, such as blowtorches and hydraulic torque wrenches, to assemble and take apart machines on a factory floor.

Physical strength. Millwrights must be strong enough to lift or move tools, heavy parts, and equipment.

Technical skills. Millwrights must be able to understand technical manuals for a wide range of machinery in order to disassemble and assemble them correctly.

Troubleshooting skills. Millwrights must be able to diagnose and solve problems. For example, if a moving part is not perfectly aligned, millwrights must find and repair the problem.

Pay About this section

The median hourly wage of millwrights was $23.25 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $14.96, and the top 10 percent earned more than $34.86. Wages often vary by industry and geographic region.

In May 2010, median hourly wages in industries employing the largest numbers of millwrights were as follows:
 

Millwrights typically are employed on a contract basis and may spend only a few days or weeks at a single site. As a result, workers often have variable schedules and may experience downtime between jobs.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of millwrights is expected to decline 5 percent from 2010 to 2020. Although the increased use of machinery in manufacturing will require millwrights to install this equipment, the demand for workers is driven largely by manufacturing businesses purchasing new equipment, and purchasing is expected to remain flat over the coming decade.

In addition, the greater reliability of many new computer-controlled machines should slow the growth of millwrights somewhat.

Job Prospects

Despite declining employment, applicants with broad skills in machine maintenance should have favorable job opportunities. The need to replace the many skilled workers who are expected to retire should be the reason for most job openings. Some employers have reported difficulty in recruiting young workers with the necessary skills.

Millwrights are not as affected by changes in production levels as are other manufacturing workers. They often stay during production downtime to overhaul major equipment and to keep expensive machinery in working order.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For information about millwrights and the precision machined products industry, training, and apprenticeships, visit
Precision Machined Products Association

For information about apprenticeships or job opportunities for millwrights, contact the local chapter of the United Brotherhood of Millwrights, a local joint union-management apprenticeship committee, or the nearest office of your state employment service or apprenticeship agency. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor’s toll-free help line: 1 (877) 872-5627 or visit Employment and Training Administration.