Millwright in New Jersey: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Skilled trades

New Jersey employs 340 millwrights, with a statewide median of $107,540 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact New Jersey licensing picture, and where to train.

What Millwrights Earn in New Jersey (May 2025)

New Jersey median pay: $107,540 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $61,830
Experienced (75th percentile): $126,320
Top earners (90th percentile): $145,320
Employed in New Jersey: 340
U.S. median (for comparison): $65,110 (May 2024)

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

New York–Newark: $93,070 (440 employed)
Philadelphia: $77,120 (510 employed)
Allentown–Bethlehem: $63,950 (150 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in New Jersey

Prices in New Jersey run about 9% above the national average (cost-of-living index 108.8 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $107,540 median is worth closer to $98,842 once higher local prices are factored in.

Job Outlook in New Jersey (2024–2034)

New Jersey is projected to grow millwrights employment +2.8%, 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.

New Jersey License and Certification Requirements

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

New Jersey 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 New Jersey state license required for millwrights →

Training in New Jersey

Contact IAMAW District 15 (NJ/NYC area) or UBC Millwright Council — contact goiam.org or carpenters.org for apprenticeship application timing. Millwright work is project-based — heavy manufacturing and industrial expansion in New Jersey drives the strongest demand cycles.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in New Jersey include:

Camden County College — Certificate
Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield — 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 New Jersey?

The median wage for millwrights in New Jersey is $107,540 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $61,830, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $145,320. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

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

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

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

Which New Jersey metros pay millwrights the most?

Among New Jersey metro areas, New York–Newark leads at $93,070, followed by Philadelphia ($77,120), Allentown–Bethlehem ($63,950). 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 New Jersey?

Real New Jersey options include Camden County College, Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield. Most millwrights start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Millwright a growing career in New Jersey?

New Jersey projects millwrights employment to change +2.8% 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), New Jersey statewide and metro estimates for SOC 49-9044. Licensing summary compiled from the No New Jersey 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 New Jersey wages · New Jersey 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.