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

Skilled trades

Indiana employs 1,760 millwrights, with a statewide median of $77,140 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Indiana licensing picture, and where to train.

What Millwrights Earn in Indiana (May 2025)

Indiana median pay: $77,140 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $48,600
Experienced (75th percentile): $91,410
Top earners (90th percentile): $95,960
Employed in Indiana: 1,760
U.S. median (for comparison): $65,110 (May 2024)

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

Fort Wayne: $91,410 (110 employed)
Indianapolis: $79,420 (390 employed)
South Bend: $67,750 (30 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in Indiana

Prices in Indiana run about 7% below the national average (cost-of-living index 93.3 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $77,140 median stretches to roughly $82,680 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in Indiana (2024–2034)

Indiana is projected to shrink millwrights employment -0.4%, about in line with the +0.0% projected nationally. The state expects about 170 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Indiana License and Certification Requirements

UBC or IAMAW Millwright Journeyman credential (no state license) — regulated by the No Indiana state license required for millwrights.

Indiana does not require a state license for millwrights. The primary path is a UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters — Millwright Division) or IAMAW Joint Apprenticeship: 4–5 years, approximately 8,000 OJT hours.
Apprenticeship covers precision machinery installation, alignment, rigging, hydraulics, pneumatics, and industrial bearing/coupling maintenance. OSHA 30 and rigging certifications included.
Contact the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters for millwright apprenticeship information. Automotive manufacturing (Stellantis Kokomo/Tipton, Honda Greensburg, Toyota Princeton, Subaru Lafayette), pharmaceutical manufacturers (Eli Lilly), and industrial facilities are major millwright employers.

Official requirements: No Indiana state license required for millwrights →

Training in Indiana

Indiana's massive automotive manufacturing base is one of the best millwright job markets in the Midwest. Stellantis's large Kokomo and Tipton complex, Honda in Greensburg, Toyota in Princeton, and Subaru in Lafayette all employ millwrights for equipment installation and maintenance. New EV battery plant construction (multiple under development in Indiana) is creating additional millwright demand.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Indiana include:

Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Indianapolis — Certificate
Ivy Tech Community College — Certificate
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis — 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 Indiana?

The median wage for millwrights in Indiana is $77,140 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $48,600, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $95,960. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

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

UBC or IAMAW Millwright Journeyman credential (no state license), overseen by the No Indiana state license required for millwrights. Indiana does not require a state license for millwrights. The primary path is a UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters — Millwright Division) or IAMAW Joint Apprenticeship: 4–5 years, approximately 8,000 OJT hours.

Is being a Millwright a good career in Indiana?

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

Which Indiana metros pay millwrights the most?

Among Indiana metro areas, Fort Wayne leads at $91,410, followed by Indianapolis ($79,420), South Bend ($67,750). 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 Indiana?

Real Indiana options include Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College, Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis. Most millwrights start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Millwright a growing career in Indiana?

Indiana projects millwrights employment to change -0.4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 170 openings a year — a declining field in the state.

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Indiana statewide and metro estimates for SOC 49-9044. Licensing summary compiled from the No Indiana 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 Indiana wages · Indiana 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.