Career comparison
Millwright vs. Refractory Repairer
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. $61,290), while refractory repairers usually get to work faster (Several months on the job of training). Millwrights install, align and maintain the heavy machinery in factories, plants and power stations. Refractory repairers reline and repair furnaces, kilns and boilers with heat-resistant materials.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Millwright | Refractory Repairer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $65,700 ($31.59/hr) | $61,290 ($29.47/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $46,290 – $93,600 | $40,590 – $86,510 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +0.9% (little or no change) | -13.7% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 3,200 | 100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 4 years (apprenticeship) | Several months on the job |
| Key credential | Apprenticeship completion | Confined space training |
| Work setting | Millwrights work in factories, power plants, mines and construction sites. | Repairers work inside furnaces, kilns and boilers in heavy industry.. |
What each job does
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
Refractory Repairer
- Inspect refractory linings
- Tear out worn material
- Install brick and castable
- Spray or gun refractory
- Repair furnace doors and seals
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, teamwork, and travel. Both are part of the mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose millwright if…
- I like big machines and precise work
- I enjoy measuring and aligning things exactly
- I can handle heavy, physical work
Choose refractory repairer if…
- I like heavy work
- I don’t mind heat and dust
- I can work in tight spaces
Still torn? Take the Millwright fit quiz and the Refractory Repairer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, millwright or refractory repairer?
Millwrights earn more at the median: $65,700 versus $61,290 for refractory repairers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Refractory Repairers typically train faster (Several months 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 -13.7% for refractory repairers.