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

Skilled trades

Virginia employs 690 millwrights, with a statewide median of $51,430 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Virginia licensing picture, and where to train.

What Millwrights Earn in Virginia (May 2025)

Virginia median pay: $51,430 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $42,730
Experienced (75th percentile): $62,070
Top earners (90th percentile): $82,010
Employed in Virginia: 690
U.S. median (for comparison): $65,110 (May 2024)

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

Washington DC metro: $55,430
Virginia Beach–Norfolk: $50,590
Richmond: $48,890 (150 employed)
Lynchburg: $45,760 (50 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in Virginia

Prices in Virginia run about 1% above the national average (cost-of-living index 101.1 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $51,430 median is worth closer to $50,870 once higher local prices are factored in.

Job Outlook in Virginia (2024–2034)

Virginia is projected to grow millwrights employment +5.1%, faster than the +0.0% projected nationally. The state expects about 60 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Virginia License and Certification Requirements

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

Virginia 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 Virginia state license required for millwrights →

Training in Virginia

Contact contact goiam.org or carpenters.org for millwright locals serving Virginia and the DC metro area for apprenticeship application timing. Millwright work is project-based — heavy manufacturing and industrial expansion in Virginia drives the strongest demand cycles.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Virginia include:

Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas — Certificate
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk — 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 Virginia?

The median wage for millwrights in Virginia is $51,430 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $42,730, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $82,010. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

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

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

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

Which Virginia metros pay millwrights the most?

Among Virginia metro areas, Washington DC metro leads at $55,430, followed by Virginia Beach–Norfolk ($50,590), Richmond ($48,890). 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 Virginia?

Real Virginia options include Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk. Most millwrights start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Millwright a growing career in Virginia?

Virginia projects millwrights employment to change +5.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 60 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), Virginia statewide and metro estimates for SOC 49-9044. Licensing summary compiled from the No Virginia 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 Virginia wages · Virginia 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.