Millwrights

Wages
In 2021, the average annual wage in Alabama was $50,930 with most people making between $37,090 and $65,150.
Wages by Industry
  • Building Equipment Contractors $47,560.00
  • Nonresidential Building Construction $48,520.00
  • Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing $65,130.00
  • Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills $54,610.00
  • Sawmills and Wood Preservation $42,540.00
  • Utility System Construction $47,770.00
Education Required
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Common Majors
  • Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology
Possible Apprenticeships
About the job

Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.

What you'll do
    • Connect power unit to machines or steam piping to equipment, and test unit to evaluate its mechanical operation.
    • Construct foundation for machines, using hand tools and building materials such as wood, cement, and steel.
    • Dismantle machinery and equipment for shipment to installation site, usually performing installation and maintenance work as part of team.
    • Fabricate and dismantle parts, equipment, and machines using a cutting torch or other cutting equipment.
    • Install robot and modify its program, using teach pendant.
    • Operate engine lathe to grind, file, and turn machine parts to dimensional specifications.
    • Position steel beams to support bedplates of machines and equipment, using blueprints and schematic drawings, to determine work procedures.
    • Shrink-fit bushings, sleeves, rings, liners, gears, and wheels to specified items, using portable gas heating equipment.
    • Troubleshoot equipment, electrical components, hydraulics, or other mechanical systems.
    • Weld, repair, and fabricate equipment or machinery.
Things you need to know
    • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
    • Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
    • Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Abilities you'll need to have
    • Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
    • Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
    • Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
    • Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
    • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
    • Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
    • Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.