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

Skilled trades

Maryland employs 160 millwrights, with a statewide median of $59,220 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Maryland licensing picture, and where to train.

What Millwrights Earn in Maryland (May 2025)

Maryland median pay: $59,220 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $50,660
Experienced (75th percentile): $79,180
Top earners (90th percentile): $81,890
Employed in Maryland: 160
U.S. median (for comparison): $65,110 (May 2024)

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

Baltimore: $73,540 (90 employed)
Washington DC metro: $55,430

What That Pay Is Worth in Maryland

Prices in Maryland run about 5% above the national average (cost-of-living index 105.0 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $59,220 median is worth closer to $56,400 once higher local prices are factored in.

Job Outlook in Maryland (2024–2034)

Maryland is projected to grow millwrights employment +0.6%, faster than the +0.0% projected nationally. The state expects about 20 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Maryland License and Certification Requirements

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

Maryland does not require a state license for millwrights. The primary path is a UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters — Millwright Division) 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 Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters (MARCC) for Maryland millwright apprenticeship information. Johns Hopkins medical campus facilities, NIH's large research campus in Bethesda, pharmaceutical manufacturing (including AstraZeneca's Gaithersburg R&D campus), and Port of Baltimore terminal equipment are major millwright employers.

Official requirements: No Maryland state license required for millwrights →

Training in Maryland

Maryland's unique combination of pharmaceutical R&D (AstraZeneca Gaithersburg, Emergent BioSolutions, MedImmune), federal research campus facilities (NIH Bethesda campus is one of the largest biomedical research campuses in the world), and large academic medical centers creates strong millwright demand for cleanroom and precision equipment installation. DC Metro Maryland millwright wages are among the highest in the Mid-Atlantic.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Maryland include:

North American Trade Schools — Certificate

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 Maryland?

The median wage for millwrights in Maryland is $59,220 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $50,660, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $81,890. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

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

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

Is being a Millwright a good career in Maryland?

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

Which Maryland metros pay millwrights the most?

Among Maryland metro areas, Baltimore leads at $73,540, followed by Washington DC metro ($55,430). 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 Maryland?

Real Maryland options include North American Trade Schools. Most millwrights start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Millwright a growing career in Maryland?

Maryland projects millwrights employment to change +0.6% from 2024 to 2034, with about 20 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), Maryland statewide and metro estimates for SOC 49-9044. Licensing summary compiled from the No Maryland 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 Maryland wages · Maryland 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.