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

Skilled trades

Illinois employs 2,160 millwrights, with a statewide median of $66,640 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Illinois licensing picture, and where to train.

What Millwrights Earn in Illinois (May 2025)

Illinois median pay: $66,640 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $44,490
Experienced (75th percentile): $85,150
Top earners (90th percentile): $105,940
Employed in Illinois: 2,160
U.S. median (for comparison): $65,110 (May 2024)

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

Rockford: $66,560 (60 employed)
Peoria: $61,870 (60 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in Illinois

Prices in Illinois run right about the national average (cost-of-living index 100.0 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $66,640 median holds roughly its face value.

Job Outlook in Illinois (2024–2034)

Illinois is projected to grow millwrights employment +0.1%, about in line with the +0.0% projected nationally. The state expects about 160 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Illinois License and Certification Requirements

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

Illinois 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 Illinois state license required for millwrights →

Training in Illinois

Contact IAMAW District 8 (Chicago area) or UBC Millwright Local 1460 — contact goiam.org or carpenters.org for apprenticeship application timing. Millwright work is project-based — heavy manufacturing and industrial expansion in Illinois drives the strongest demand cycles.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Illinois include:

Carl Sandburg College — Certificate / Associate
Chicago Professional Center — Certificate
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College — Certificate / Associate
Danville Area Community 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 Illinois?

The median wage for millwrights in Illinois is $66,640 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $44,490, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $105,940. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

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

IAMAW Journeyman Millwright (apprenticeship credential — no state license), overseen by the No Illinois state license required for millwrights. Illinois 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 Illinois?

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

Which Illinois metros pay millwrights the most?

Among Illinois metro areas, Rockford leads at $66,560, followed by Peoria ($61,870). 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 Illinois?

Real Illinois options include Carl Sandburg College, Chicago Professional Center, City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College. Most millwrights start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Millwright a growing career in Illinois?

Illinois projects millwrights employment to change +0.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 160 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), Illinois statewide and metro estimates for SOC 49-9044. Licensing summary compiled from the No Illinois 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 Illinois wages · Illinois 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.