Salary guide, May 2025
Millwright pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Millwrights in the United States was $65,700 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $56,390 and $81,500.
Also searched as: Industrial Millwright, Machinery Mechanic, Plant Millwright. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Direct match · SOC 49-9044 Millwrights
The Millwright title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $46,290 | $56,390 | $65,700 | $81,500 | $93,600 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22.25 | $27.11 | $31.59 | $39.18 | $45.00 |
BLS estimated 40,330 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-9044 Millwrights, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $64,420 | $50,960 to $70,260 | 40 | 0.06 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | Not published by BLS for this area. National figures above apply. | |||
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Not published by BLS for this area. National figures above apply. | |||
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | Not published by BLS for this area. National figures above apply. | |||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $93,070 | $73,880 to $115,640 | 440 | 0.18 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $93,070 | $73,880 to $115,640 | 440 | 0.18 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $65,500 | $46,590 to $79,290 | 640 | 0.61 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $74,730 | $53,800 to $93,610 | 1,490 | 1.27 |
Rank every metro for Millwright
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$92,420
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$91,710
- Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing$91,410
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$91,380
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$86,920
- Chemical Manufacturing$85,410
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$82,840
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$81,540
- Paper Manufacturing$80,080
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing$77,000
- Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing$77,000
- Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only)$76,250
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing$75,870
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing$75,870
- Converted Paper Product Manufacturing$75,410
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 14,590 | $60,710 | $71,150 | $85,180 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 3,950 | $58,670 | $62,850 | $74,950 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 3,360 | $81,170 | $91,380 | $92,040 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 2,720 | $59,150 | $62,760 | $75,020 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 2,040 | $56,030 | $62,780 | $75,250 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 1,550 | $83,280 | $91,710 | $92,040 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 1,470 | $59,400 | $68,570 | $77,900 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 1,340 | $82,640 | $91,410 | $92,030 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 1,040 | $70,620 | $80,080 | $87,130 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 980 | $55,320 | $62,530 | $75,310 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 840 | $70,200 | $82,840 | $88,790 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 800 | $61,490 | $64,980 | $75,450 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 620 | $61,340 | $67,750 | $78,620 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 600 | $76,050 | $85,410 | $100,000 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 580 | $30,910 | $60,010 | $70,050 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 540 | $77,830 | $86,920 | $102,070 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 530 | $65,630 | $70,960 | $92,010 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 440 | $50,790 | $50,950 | $52,090 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 440 | $50,780 | $57,820 | $70,450 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 430 | $45,300 | $58,440 | $65,640 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 430 | $54,120 | $64,270 | $75,610 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 420 | $44,820 | $57,920 | $73,360 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 420 | $49,990 | $57,440 | $68,690 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 360 | $50,790 | $50,950 | $50,950 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 290 | $52,220 | $62,750 | $72,940 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 210 | $60,090 | $68,570 | $68,570 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 200 | $70,820 | $75,410 | $82,780 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 200 | $61,740 | $65,040 | $75,480 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 200 | $49,910 | $67,090 | $70,550 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 190 | $57,660 | $61,480 | $70,070 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 180 | $82,650 | $92,420 | $103,700 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 160 | $64,370 | $70,540 | $70,560 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 150 | $63,820 | $75,870 | $79,370 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 150 | $63,820 | $75,870 | $79,370 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 110 | $67,920 | $70,730 | $80,390 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 110 | $67,920 | $70,730 | $80,390 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 110 | $67,050 | $73,180 | $79,240 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 100 | $62,520 | $77,000 | $77,960 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 100 | $62,520 | $77,000 | $77,960 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 80 | $58,680 | $68,410 | $75,520 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 80 | $45,130 | $60,150 | $72,850 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 80 | $48,880 | $54,500 | $91,640 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 70 | $72,450 | $81,540 | $86,790 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 70 | $43,470 | $61,530 | $67,640 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 70 | $43,470 | $61,530 | $67,640 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 50 | $51,710 | $55,910 | $65,140 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 40 | $67,240 | $71,570 | $74,580 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 40 | $66,480 | $76,250 | $81,120 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $64,520 | $74,490 | $77,300 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | Not published by BLS | $59,820 | $59,900 | $63,740 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Millwright, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $55,420 | $65,170 | $80,580 |
| May 2025 | $56,390 | $65,700 | $81,500 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Maintenance Manager pay (SOC 49-1011)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about red flags for millwrights?
Be careful with those who cannot explain how they would lift a heavy load, who skip alignment records or who treat lubrication as unimportant. Also notice those who have no stories about a repair that went wrong. We ask and report.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Millwright?
The median annual wage for Millwrights in the United States was $65,700 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $56,390 and $81,500.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $46,290. 90% earned less than $93,600.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Millwright at a plant?
The Millwright title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 40,330 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
Millwrights perform critical precision installation and maintenance work on industrial machinery. This occupation is mapped to the SOC 49-9044. The national median salary is $65,700, reflecting a $530 increase from the previous May 2024 median. The middle band width of $25,110 captures the range of experience and project types within the occupation.
Manufacturing Headhunters notes that these BLS figures exclude non-wage items such as specialized rigging bonuses or tool allowances.
Regional variations are evident in the provided data. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn sees a median of $91,850 and a high location quotient of 3.02. This dense concentration of industrial work in Detroit explains the significantly higher median pay compared to other areas. The local demand for millwrights is a key factor in these regional pay profiles.
National industry statistics provide context for where millwrights operate at higher compensation levels. Motor Vehicle Manufacturing follows with $91,710, and Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing stands at $91,410. These national figures demonstrate that the automotive and aerospace sectors offer higher median pay than the general occupation. Note that these figures are national industry rows and should not be used to represent local facility pay. The BLS data aggregates all work settings, regardless of specific plant duties.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Why is the Detroit metro pay for this role so high?
Detroit has a very high location quotient of 3.02 for millwrights, indicating a specialized industrial base that drives competitive local wages.
What is the significance of the national industry medians?
They show how specific manufacturing sectors pay relative to the national occupational average, though they remain national figures.
Is the wage data seasonally adjusted?
No, the BLS wage data provided is based on annual reports and is not seasonally adjusted.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4