Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Millwright actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $69,833 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $49,800 to $127,200. The $48,883 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
Positioned in Installation & Maintenance within the broader Skilled Trades industry, Millwrights typically hold Apprenticeship. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is industrial. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$77,400 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Millwright in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $127,200 — $77,400 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($49,800). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The salary distribution for Millwrights reveals a $48,883 spread from entry to senior. At $69,833, the median sits $10,534 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $50,280 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $99,163 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $118,800 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $50,200 (average of the bottom 3). That $68,600 delta is real money — $5,717/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Millwright in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $127,200 — $77,400 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($49,800). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Millwright is $50,280, while senior-level (P90) earners average $99,163. That $48,883 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Millwrights average $50,280 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $50,280 | $69,833 | $99,163 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £27,636 | £38,383 | £54,505 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$42,298 | CA$58,747 | CA$83,422 |
| Australia | 13 | A$51,699 | A$71,803 | A$101,961 |
| Sweden | 24 | 289,933 kr | 402,685 kr | 571,813 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $60,685 | $84,285 | $119,685 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $58,644 | $81,450 | $115,659 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $58,320 | $81,000 | $115,020 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $54,000 | $75,000 | $106,500 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $53,352 | $74,100 | $105,222 |
| Washington | 8 | $52,326 | $72,675 | $103,199 |
| New York | 5 | $49,248 | $68,400 | $97,128 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $49,248 | $68,400 | $97,128 |
| Florida | 22 | $48,875 | $67,882 | $96,392 |
| Colorado | 11 | $48,031 | $66,709 | $94,727 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $47,952 | $66,600 | $94,572 |
| Nevada | 5 | $47,866 | $66,480 | $94,402 |
| Arizona | 12 | $47,628 | $66,150 | $93,933 |
| Oregon | 5 | $47,520 | $66,000 | $93,720 |
| Idaho | 3 | $47,376 | $65,800 | $93,436 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $47,002 | $65,280 | $92,698 |
| Utah | 4 | $46,872 | $65,100 | $92,442 |
| Virginia | 7 | $46,101 | $64,029 | $90,921 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $45,504 | $63,200 | $89,744 |
| Alaska | 1 | $45,360 | $63,000 | $89,460 |
| Illinois | 5 | $44,842 | $62,280 | $88,438 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $43,728 | $60,733 | $86,241 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $43,200 | $60,000 | $85,200 |
| Montana | 1 | $43,200 | $60,000 | $85,200 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $43,056 | $59,800 | $84,916 |
| Texas | 40 | $42,844 | $59,505 | $84,497 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $42,768 | $59,400 | $84,348 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $42,552 | $59,100 | $83,922 |
| Georgia | 6 | $42,408 | $58,900 | $83,638 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $42,336 | $58,800 | $83,496 |
| Kansas | 4 | $42,120 | $58,500 | $83,070 |
| Michigan | 6 | $41,976 | $58,300 | $82,786 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $41,472 | $57,600 | $81,792 |
| Maryland | 1 | $41,472 | $57,600 | $81,792 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $39,960 | $55,500 | $78,810 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $39,744 | $55,200 | $78,384 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $39,204 | $54,450 | $77,319 |
| Missouri | 4 | $39,204 | $54,450 | $77,319 |
| Alabama | 5 | $39,053 | $54,240 | $77,021 |
| Indiana | 3 | $38,448 | $53,400 | $75,828 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $38,448 | $53,400 | $75,828 |
| Iowa | 2 | $38,016 | $52,800 | $74,976 |
| Ohio | 6 | $37,944 | $52,700 | $74,834 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $36,288 | $50,400 | $71,568 |
The state salary map for Millwrights: California at $84,285, Massachusetts at $81,450, Hawaii at $81,000 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($50,400), Ohio ($52,700), Iowa ($52,800) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $33,885.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($127,200 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $60,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $127,200 | 212 | $60,000 | $76,981 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $118,800 | 198 | $60,000 | $72,357 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $110,400 | 184 | $60,000 | $67,733 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $108,600 | 181 | $60,000 | $66,742 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $106,800 | 178 | $60,000 | $65,751 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $106,200 | 177 | $60,000 | $65,421 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $106,200 | 177 | $60,000 | $65,421 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $103,800 | 173 | $60,000 | $64,099 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $103,800 | 173 | $60,000 | $64,099 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $101,400 | 169 | $60,000 | $62,778 |
The $48,883 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Millwright career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Skilled Trades sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Millwrights is $69,833 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $50,280, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $99,163.
The highest-paying city for Millwrights is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $127,200. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($127,200), Santa Clara ($118,800), Irvine ($110,400). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Millwright salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $49,800. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Millwrights (10th percentile) average $50,280 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $91,584. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Millwrights average $99,163 nationally — $48,883 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Millwrights can earn up to $180,624.
The top-paying states for Millwrights are California ($84,285 median), Massachusetts ($81,450 median), Hawaii ($81,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Millwright involves Apprenticeship. The field is in the Skilled Trades sector (Installation & Maintenance), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically industrial.
With a national median of $69,833 and representation across 288 metro areas, Millwright offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $48,883 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.