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

Skilled trades

Millwrights in Massachusetts earn a statewide median of $65,220, with wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Massachusetts licensing picture, and where to train.

What Millwrights Earn in Massachusetts (May 2025)

Massachusetts median pay: $65,220 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $57,870
Experienced (75th percentile): $74,530
Top earners (90th percentile): $78,610
Employed in Massachusetts: Not published (BLS suppressed)
U.S. median (for comparison): $65,110 (May 2024)

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

Worcester: $72,840
Boston: $65,220
Providence: $62,520 (110 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in Massachusetts

Prices in Massachusetts run about 6% above the national average (cost-of-living index 105.8 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $65,220 median is worth closer to $61,645 once higher local prices are factored in.

Massachusetts License and Certification Requirements

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

Massachusetts does not require a state license for millwrights. The primary path is a UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters — Millwright/Industrial Division) Joint Apprenticeship: 4–5 years, approximately 8,000 OJT hours.
Apprenticeship covers precision machinery installation, alignment, rigging, hydraulics, pneumatics, and industrial bearing work. OSHA 30 and rigging certifications included.
Contact the New England Regional Council of Carpenters for millwright apprenticeship opportunities. Pharmaceutical manufacturing (Pfizer, Moderna, Sanofi all have major Massachusetts facilities), paper mills, power plants, and biotech campus facilities are major millwright employers.

Official requirements: No Massachusetts state license required for millwrights →

Training in Massachusetts

Massachusetts' large and growing pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing sector — anchored by companies like Moderna (Norwood), Pfizer (Andover), and a dense Cambridge biotech cluster — creates millwright demand for cleanroom equipment installation, maintenance, and facility expansion. New England millwright wages are among the highest in the country.

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 Massachusetts?

The median wage for millwrights in Massachusetts is $65,220 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $57,870, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $78,610. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

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

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

Is being a Millwright a good career in Massachusetts?

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

Which Massachusetts metros pay millwrights the most?

Among Massachusetts metro areas, Worcester leads at $72,840, followed by Boston ($65,220), Providence ($62,520). Local pay tracks regional demand and cost of living, so the highest-paying metro isn't always the best net move.

Sources and Verification

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

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.