Career comparison
Machinery Maintenance Worker vs. Millwright
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Millwrights earn more at the median ($65,700 vs. $60,850), while machinery maintenance workers usually get to work faster (A year or more on the job of training). Machinery maintenance workers lubricate, clean and do routine repairs on factory machines. Millwrights install, align and maintain the heavy machinery in factories, plants and power stations.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Machinery Maintenance Worker | Millwright | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $60,850 ($29.25/hr) | $65,700 ($31.59/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $42,000 – $88,550 | $46,290 – $93,600 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -1.9% (a projected decline) | +0.9% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 4,400 | 3,200 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A year or more on the job | 4 years (apprenticeship) |
| Key credential | MLT I | Apprenticeship completion |
| Work setting | Workers are on factory floors, often in noisy, oily areas.. | Millwrights work in factories, power plants, mines and construction sites. |
What each job does
Machinery Maintenance Worker
- Lubricate machinery
- Change belts and filters
- Clean equipment
- Inspect for wear
- Make minor adjustments
Millwright
- Read blueprints and installation drawings
- Rig, move and set heavy machinery
- Level and anchor equipment to foundations
- Align shafts and couplings with precision tools
- Install and repair conveyors, pumps and gearboxes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, and indoor work. Both are part of the mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose machinery maintenance worker if…
- I like machines
- I don’t mind getting dirty
- I’m reliable
Choose millwright if…
- I like big machines and precise work
- I enjoy measuring and aligning things exactly
- I can handle heavy, physical work
Still torn? Take the Machinery Maintenance Worker fit quiz and the Millwright fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, machinery maintenance worker or millwright?
Millwrights earn more at the median: $65,700 versus $60,850 for machinery maintenance workers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Machinery Maintenance Workers typically train faster (A year or more on the job) than millwrights (4 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects millwrights to grow +0.9% from 2025–35, compared with -1.9% for machinery maintenance workers.