Millwright Career Assessment
Installing and aligning big industrial machines
Welcome
Millwrights install, move, fix, and line up large machines in plants, mills, and power stations.
It is a small but skilled trade in North Dakota. You will explore whether this hands-on work fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Millwright?
A millwright puts heavy machines in place and makes them run right. They set up turbines, pumps, conveyors, and production lines. They lift machines with rigging and cranes, then line them up very exactly, sometimes to one-thousandth of an inch. They also weld and repair equipment.
The Reality: This is a small field in North Dakota, with only about 130 millwrights statewide and few openings each year. Work often comes in big projects and plant shutdowns, with long hours and travel. You may work at heights, in tight spaces, and around heavy loads.
Your Responsibilities:
- Read blueprints and machine plans
- Rig and lift heavy machines with cranes and hoists
- Put machines in place and bolt them down
- Line up shafts and parts with precise tools
- Weld and cut metal
- Take apart and repair machines
- Install conveyors, pumps, and turbines
- Follow strict safety rules
You get the big machines running and keep them running.
A Day in the Life
6:00 AM — Arrive at a power plant for a planned shutdown. Safety meeting and lockout.
6:30 AM — Help rig a large pump and lift it out with a crane.
9:00 AM — Take the pump apart. Find worn bearings and seals.
11:00 AM — Lunch on site.
11:30 AM — Install new bearings. Rebuild the pump.
2:00 PM — Set the pump back in place.
3:00 PM — Line up the pump and motor shafts with a laser alignment tool.
5:00 PM — Long shift. The shutdown must finish on time, so tomorrow starts early too.
Heavy, precise work, often with long hours during projects.
Training in North Dakota
Most millwrights learn through an apprenticeship. No ND license is required. Most millwrights finish a 4-year apprenticeship. Some start in industrial maintenance and learn on the job.
Training Pathways:
- Union apprenticeship (about 4 years): About 7,000 hours of paid work plus 800 hours of classes with the carpenters' union. Covers rigging, welding, alignment, and safety.
- College first (2 years): An industrial maintenance degree teaches many of the same skills. It can lead to maintenance jobs in plants.
- On the job: Start as a helper or maintenance worker at a plant, then learn millwright skills.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters — union millwright apprenticeship; ND training campuses in Fargo and in the Bismarck-Mandan area (Center, ND)
- Bismarck State College (Bismarck) — Mechanical Maintenance Technology, AAS (66 credits, on campus); a related path that teaches industrial equipment repair and welding. It is not a millwright apprenticeship.
- ND plants and industrial contractors — registered apprenticeships or on-the-job training (search jobsnd.com)
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Good math, including geometry. Mechanical skills. Welding skills help. A valid driver's license and willingness to travel.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
No ND license is required. North Dakota does not license millwrights. Safety training and skill certifications help you get hired.
Helpful Credentials:
- Journeyman card — earned when you finish a registered apprenticeship
- Welding certifications — such as American Welding Society (AWS) tests
- Rigging and signal person certification — for safe crane lifts
- OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 — safety training many job sites require
The Exams: Each credential has its own test. Welding tests are hands-on. Many are included in apprenticeship training.
Cost: Apprenticeship classes are often low cost or free to apprentices. Ask about any fees before you start.
Keeping It Current: No state license to renew. Some welding and rigging certifications must be kept current.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Millwright Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $24.43–$28.75/hour ($50,810–$59,800/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $29.21/hour ($60,750/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $33.03–$39.71/hour ($68,690–$82,590/year)
What that means: ND median pay is a bit below the national median of about $31.59 an hour. Overtime during shutdowns and travel jobs can add a lot. Union journeymen often earn more.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 130 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 130 (about 3% growth). Expect about 10 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is little or no change (0%).
Outlook: Limited. North Dakota has only about 10 openings a year. Being willing to travel for work across the region helps a lot.
Who Hires in ND: Power plants, ethanol and food processing plants, manufacturers, industrial contractors, and union contractors that work across the region.
Work Setting: Industrial plants, power plants, and construction sites. Can be hot, cold, loud, and dirty. Work at heights and in tight spaces. Travel is common.
Physical Demands: Very high. Heavy lifting, climbing, kneeling, working at heights, and long shifts on your feet.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 49-9044); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Journeyman Millwright — Work on your own.
Path 2: Foreman — Lead a crew on projects.
Path 3: Maintenance Supervisor — Run maintenance at a plant.
Path 4: Industrial Maintenance Mechanic — Keep one plant running.
Path 5: Wind Turbine Technician — Use your skills on wind farms.
Path 6: Instructor — Teach apprentices.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Earn while you learn
- Highly skilled work
- Big overtime during shutdowns
- Mix of heavy work and precision
- No license needed
- Skills carry over to many industries
What's Hard:
- Very few openings in ND
- Travel and time away from home
- Very physical work
- Long shifts during shutdowns
- Work at heights and around heavy loads
- Work can come and go with projects
Be Honest: Are you willing to travel for work? Can you handle very physical work and long shifts? Can you do precise work with math?