Millwright
UBC Local 548
Install, align, and maintain industrial machinery and heavy equipment in manufacturing and processing facilities.
Starting Pay
$21.48/hr
1st year apprentice
Journeyman Pay
$42.95/hr
~$86k/year
Apprenticeship
4 years
earn while you learn
Total Package
$115,000+
wages + benefits
Overview
The Work
Millwrights from UBC Local 548 erect, install, align, and maintain industrial machinery and equipment across Minnesota. The work demands precision — you're aligning turbines to thousandths of an inch, leveling conveyor systems, and ensuring pumps and motors run true. Job sites range from food processing plants and breweries to power plants, paper mills, and manufacturing facilities. You'll use laser alignment tools, precision measuring instruments, and rigging equipment to move and set heavy machinery. The trade blends mechanical aptitude with problem-solving skills. When a production line goes down at 2 AM, millwrights are the ones who get the call. Travel is common since work follows the projects, but the skills are highly specialized and the demand is consistent.
Day One as an Apprentice
Your first day you'll report to an industrial job site and meet your journeyman. Expect to start with safety orientation, learning to identify different types of machinery, and basic tool use. Early weeks involve a lot of material handling, cleaning work areas, and watching how experienced millwrights read equipment drawings and perform precision alignments.
This trade is
Pay Scale
Pay increases each year of the apprenticeship as a percentage of the journeyman rate. All rates are hourly; estimated annual at 2,000 hrs/year.
| Year | Stage | Hourly | Annual Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Year Apprentice | $21.48/hr | ~$43k |
| 2 | 2nd Year Apprentice | $25.77/hr | ~$52k |
| 3 | 3rd Year Apprentice | $32.21/hr | ~$64k |
| 4 | 4th Year Apprentice | $36.51/hr | ~$73k |
| 5 | Journeyman Millwright | $42.95/hr | ~$86k |
Benefits Package
Full family health insurance, defined-benefit pension through the UBC, annuity fund, and paid vacation. Benefits are portable across UBC locals nationwide.
Apprenticeship Program
4 years
Program Length
720 hrs
Classroom Hours
7,000 hrs
On-the-Job Hours
How to Apply
Apply through the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters or contact Local 548 directly. You'll need a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license.
Application Windows
Check millwrightsmn.com or call the hall for current application dates.
Requirements
General Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license
- At least 18 years old
- Drug-free workplace — pre-employment drug test required
- Strong mechanical aptitude and basic math skills
- Reliable transportation (statewide travel is common)
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift and carry up to 75 lbs
- Comfortable working in confined spaces and at moderate heights
- Good hand-eye coordination for precision alignment work
- Ability to work in noisy industrial environments
Tools You'll Need
- Basic hand tools: wrenches, hammers, pry bars, levels
- Precision measuring instruments (provided during training)
- Work boots (steel-toed required)
- Hard hat and safety glasses (often provided by employer)
Physical Demand
4/5
Technical Level
4/5
Union Hall
Market Outlook
High Demand
MN DEED projects 7% millwright growth 2022–2032 with about 50 annual openings in Minnesota, outpacing the flat 0% national BLS projection 2024–2034. Minnesota's manufacturing and industrial base generates stronger local demand than the national average.
Next Steps
Ready to learn more or apply? Here's what to do right now.
Wage source: Journeyman base hourly rate is sourced from the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry Commercial Prevailing Wage Schedule (effective 2025-12-22), which is derived from the prevailing collective bargaining agreement for Statewide. Total package (with fringe benefits) is higher than the base rate shown. Apprentice progression rates are calculated as standard percentages of journeyman scale and may differ slightly from the actual CBA. This page is not affiliated with UBC Local 548 or any union. Verify all information — including current pay rates, application windows, and requirements — directly with UBC Local 548.