Millwright in Georgia: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Skilled trades

Georgia employs 1,780 millwrights, with a statewide median of $62,760 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Georgia licensing picture, and where to train.

What Millwrights Earn in Georgia (May 2025)

Georgia median pay: $62,760 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $46,450
Experienced (75th percentile): $74,610
Top earners (90th percentile): $78,980
Employed in Georgia: 1,780
U.S. median (for comparison): $65,110 (May 2024)

Wages vary substantially by metro. Median annual pay for millwrights in major Georgia markets:

Augusta: $62,080 (110 employed)
Savannah: $60,890 (210 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in Georgia

Prices in Georgia run about 4% below the national average (cost-of-living index 96.3 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $62,760 median stretches to roughly $65,171 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in Georgia (2024–2034)

Georgia is projected to grow millwrights employment +2.0%, faster than the +0.0% projected nationally. The state expects about 200 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Georgia License and Certification Requirements

IAMAW Journeyman Millwright (apprenticeship credential — no state license) — regulated by the No Georgia state license required for millwrights.

Georgia does not require a state license for millwrights. The entry path is an IAMAW (International Association of Machinists) or UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters — Millwright Council) Joint Apprenticeship: 4–5 years, approximately 8,000 OJT hours, covering machinery installation, precision alignment, hydraulics, pneumatics, and rigging.
Complete millwright-specific training in blueprint reading, precision measurement (to 0.001" tolerance), welding fundamentals, and industrial bearing/coupling/gearbox maintenance. Many programs also certify in OSHA 30 and rigging.
Apply directly to manufacturing plants, paper/pulp mills, food processing facilities, power plants, and industrial contractors. Millwrights are typically dispatched through local union hiring halls for project work.

Official requirements: No Georgia state license required for millwrights →

Training in Georgia

Contact contact goiam.org or carpenters.org for millwright locals serving Georgia for apprenticeship application timing. Millwright work is project-based — heavy manufacturing and industrial expansion in Georgia drives the strongest demand cycles.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Georgia include:

Albany Technical College — Certificate / Associate
Athens Technical College — Certificate / Associate
Atlanta Technical College — Certificate / Associate
Augusta Technical College — Certificate / Associate

Is This the Right Move for You?

Best for: People who like mechanical puzzles, want solid union wages, and are comfortable with industrial environments.

Think twice if: Heavy lifting, industrial noise, and working around large moving machinery sounds miserable rather than interesting.

Why it's resilient: Millwrights install and maintain industrial machinery — precision mechanical work that requires on-site problem solving in manufacturing plants and facilities.

First Steps

Contact the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) Millwright division or check local industrial union apprenticeship openings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do millwrights make in Georgia?

The median wage for millwrights in Georgia is $62,760 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $46,450, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $78,980. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

What license or certification do you need to become a Millwright in Georgia?

IAMAW Journeyman Millwright (apprenticeship credential — no state license), overseen by the No Georgia state license required for millwrights. Georgia does not require a state license for millwrights. The entry path is an IAMAW (International Association of Machinists) or UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters — Millwright Council) Joint Apprenticeship: 4–5 years, approximately 8,000 OJT hours, covering machinery installation, precision alignment, hydraulics, pneumatics, and rigging.

Is being a Millwright a good career in Georgia?

Millwrights install and maintain industrial machinery — precision mechanical work that requires on-site problem solving in manufacturing plants and facilities.

Which Georgia metros pay millwrights the most?

Among Georgia metro areas, Augusta leads at $62,080, followed by Savannah ($60,890). Local pay tracks regional demand and cost of living, so the highest-paying metro isn't always the best net move.

Where can I train to become a Millwright in Georgia?

Real Georgia options include Albany Technical College, Athens Technical College, Atlanta Technical College. Most millwrights start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Millwright a growing career in Georgia?

Georgia projects millwrights employment to change +2.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 200 openings a year — a growing field in the state.

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Georgia statewide and metro estimates for SOC 49-9044. Licensing summary compiled from the No Georgia state license required for millwrights (2026-06-11). Requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and verify program costs and outcomes before enrolling.

BLS Occupational Outlook · O*NET Georgia wages · Georgia licensing/certification source

Employment projections: Projections Central / BLS Employment Projections (2024–2034); Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities.

Pay percentiles describe current workers, not entry-level offers; training costs and local demand vary, so verify locally before committing money or quitting a job.