Occupation · SOC 49-9044
Millwrights
Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.
Median wage
$65,170
$45,100–$93,740
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
40,660
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
402 mapped
Core skills
TroubleshootingInstallationEquipment MaintenanceRepairingOperations MonitoringCritical ThinkingOperation and ControlTime ManagementQuality Control AnalysisMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationReading ComprehensionCoordinationPersuasionNegotiationLearning StrategiesInstructingEquipment SelectionWritingSystems AnalysisActive LearningSystems EvaluationMathematicsManagement of Personnel ResourcesManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignOperations AnalysisScienceProgramming
Knowledge areas
MechanicalMathematicsBuilding and ConstructionEducation and TrainingEngineering and TechnologyPublic Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageDesignProduction and ProcessingPhysicsAdministration and ManagementTransportationCustomer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsPersonnel and Human ResourcesChemistryAdministrativeTelecommunicationsLaw and GovernmentFood ProductionSales and MarketingPsychologyCommunications and MediaEconomics and AccountingForeign LanguageBiologyTherapy and CounselingGeographySociology and AnthropologyPhilosophy and TheologyMedicine and DentistryHistory and ArcheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Autodesk AutoCADComputer aided design CAD softwareDassault Systemes SolidWorksMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordSAP software
Representative tasks
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsHandling and Moving ObjectsGetting InformationPerforming General Physical ActivitiesCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsControlling Machines and ProcessesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsDocumenting/Recording InformationTraining and Teaching OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentScheduling Work and ActivitiesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentCoaching and Developing OthersProcessing InformationGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping and Building TeamsAnalyzing Data or InformationThinking CreativelyInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersAssisting and Caring for OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesWorking with ComputersSelling or Influencing OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Hand tools and basic power tools — identify and use correctly under direct supervision on an industrial installation site.Defective machine parts — recognize and flag for replacement under the guidance of a journeyman millwright.Hoists, dollies, rollers, and trucks — assist in moving machinery and equipment under close supervision in a shop or plant environment.Nuts, bolts, and fasteners — tighten to specified torque values using hand tools while following written instructions on the job site.Lubrication schedules and preventive maintenance checklists — follow step-by-step under supervision to service basic industrial machinery.Safety protocols and PPE requirements — apply consistently when working around moving machinery and heavy equipment in a manufacturing facility.Crane hand signals — learn and practice basic signals to assist in lowering assembly units under direct direction from a senior millwright.Measuring instruments such as rules, squares, and micrometers — use to take basic dimensional readings under guidance during equipment installation.Assembly diagrams and equipment manuals — read and interpret with assistance to support machine assembly tasks on the shop floor.Shims and adjustment hardware — retrieve and stage correctly in preparation for clearance-setting tasks under the supervision of an experienced millwright.
developing
Misaligned machine components — diagnose and correct using jacks, shims, and hand tools with limited oversight in a production plant setting.Preventive maintenance routines — perform independently on assigned machinery, including lubrication and minor part replacement, according to established schedules.Hoists and rigging equipment — operate to move and position machinery and equipment safely with reduced supervision on an industrial floor.Clearances between moving and stationary parts — set to specification by adjusting shims and bolt tension using micrometers and measuring instruments.Machine assembly sequences — execute routinely using hand tools and power tools, following blueprints and technical manuals in a manufacturing environment.Defective machine parts — replace or adjust after identifying wear or failure during scheduled maintenance inspections at a production facility.Alignment tasks — complete using squares, rules, lasers, or plumb bobs with growing proficiency and minimal direction from lead personnel.Crane operator communications — coordinate effectively using standard hand signals to guide lowering and positioning of assembly units to bedplate.Bolting, welding, and riveting operations — perform to fasten assembled machines to foundations or structural supports per engineered specifications.Maintenance logs and work orders — complete accurately using office suite or ERP software to document repairs and parts usage on the job.
proficient
Complex machinery alignment — perform autonomously across multiple machine types using lasers, micrometers, and precision instruments in high-tolerance industrial environments.Non-routine equipment failures — troubleshoot independently, applying critical thinking and mechanical knowledge to diagnose root causes and implement lasting repairs.Full preventive and corrective maintenance programs — execute across an entire production line, prioritizing tasks based on operational impact and scheduling constraints.Heavy equipment installation projects — manage from foundation preparation through final alignment and commissioning using the full range of rigging and precision tools.Clearance and tolerance specifications — verify and adjust across diverse machine assemblies, interpreting engineering drawings and OEM documentation without assistance.Machinery relocation operations — plan and execute safely using hoists, dollies, and trucks while coordinating with crane operators and other trades on a live plant floor.Weld, bolt, and rivet fastenings — select appropriate methods and execute to code when securing machines to foundations or structural members in varied industrial settings.Maintenance quality outcomes — evaluate through systematic inspection and measurement, applying quality control analysis to ensure machines meet operational standards.CAD drawings and technical schematics — interpret and cross-reference to resolve installation ambiguities and guide junior millwrights on complex assembly tasks.Cross-functional maintenance coordination — collaborate with operations, engineering, and safety teams to schedule and execute major equipment overhauls with minimal production downtime.
advanced
Millwright competency standards — establish and communicate for a facility or department, defining performance expectations and career progression for apprentices and journeymen.Precision alignment methodology — lead adoption of laser alignment systems and advanced measurement practices across a multi-site industrial organization.Preventive maintenance strategy — design and implement at the organizational level, integrating ERP software to optimize equipment uptime and reduce lifecycle costs.High-risk machinery installation projects — oversee from scope definition through final acceptance, directing crews, managing rigging plans, and enforcing safety protocols.Equipment reliability programs — develop and champion organization-wide, applying engineering and mechanical knowledge to reduce unplanned downtime across production assets.Technical training curriculum — create and deliver for apprentice and developing millwrights, covering alignment, rigging, maintenance, and safety in structured on-the-job modules.Cross-trade coordination on major capital projects — lead as principal millwright authority, interfacing with contractors, engineers, and plant management to ensure installation integrity.Organizational safety culture — advance by authoring procedures, conducting hazard assessments, and mentoring crews on cautious, standards-compliant work practices around heavy machinery.Budgets and resource plans for maintenance operations — develop and manage at the department level, balancing labor, parts, and equipment costs against production targets.Continuous improvement initiatives — drive by analyzing maintenance data from ERP and monitoring systems to identify recurring failure patterns and implement systemic mechanical solutions.
Also known as
37 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Automated Equipment EngineerAutomated 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)Construction MillwrightGear RepairerIndustrial Machine AssemblerIndustrial MillwrightInstallation Service Representative (Installation Service Rep)Journeyman MillwrightMachine ErectorMachine InstallerMachine MoverMachine RiggerMachine Set Up Operator (Machine Set Up Op)Machine SetterMachinery DismantlerMachinery ErectorMachinery MoverMachinery RiggerMaintenance MechanicMaintenance MillwrightManufacturer's Service Representative (Manufacturer's Service Rep)Manufacturing MillwrightMechanicMillwrightMillwright ApprenticeMillwright Business Representative (Millwright Business Rep)Millwright ForemanMillwright General ForemanMillwright HelperMillwright InstructorMillwright MechanicMoverPlant ChangerPrecision Millwright