Career comparison
Millwright vs. Rigger
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. $62,640), while riggers usually get to work faster (Months of training of training). Millwrights install, align and maintain the heavy machinery in factories, plants and power stations. Riggers plan and rig heavy lifts for cranes, machinery moves and construction.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Millwright | Rigger | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $65,700 ($31.59/hr) | $62,640 ($30.12/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $46,290 – $93,600 | $40,680 – $97,850 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +0.9% (little or no change) | +3.9% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 3,200 | 1,700 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 4 years (apprenticeship) | Months of training |
| Key credential | Apprenticeship completion | NCCCO Rigger Level I and II |
| Work setting | Millwrights work in factories, power plants, mines and construction sites. | Riggers work on construction sites, plants and ports.. |
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
Rigger
- Plan lifts
- Calculate weights
- Select rigging
- Attach loads
- Signal operators
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, problem-solving, and teamwork. They sit in different fields, mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing and skilled trades & construction, but share transferable skills such as patience and precision and precision.
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 rigger if…
- I like math and physics
- I stay calm
- I communicate clearly
Still torn? Take the Millwright fit quiz and the Rigger fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, millwright or rigger?
Millwrights earn more at the median: $65,700 versus $62,640 for riggers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Riggers typically train faster (Months of training) than millwrights (4 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects riggers to grow +3.9% from 2025–35, compared with +0.9% for millwrights.