Millwrights
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Heavy machines are assembled, then bolted, welded, or riveted to a foundation, or shifted into place with hoists, dollies, rollers, and trucks. Alignment uses lasers, micrometers, squares, and plumb bobs to set the unit to a centerline, while shims and bolt tension create the specified gaps between moving and stationary parts. A crane operator is signaled when a basic assembly is lowered onto the bedplate. Once installed, machines still get lubricated, parts replaced, and clearances adjusted. A fit for people who like placing heavy equipment to a drawing and measuring until alignment and clearances are exact.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$65'700
Median Wage Market Position
$65'700
What you might do
- Assemble, bolt, or weld machines to foundations
- Align machines with lasers, squares, and plumb lines
- Insert shims to set the gap between parts
- Move machines on hoists, dollies, and rollers
- Signal the crane operator when lowering assemblies
- Oil machines and replace worn or misaligned parts
Skills that matter
- Machine installation from layout drawings
- Alignment with lasers and micrometers
- Shim work for specified clearances
- Hand signals to the crane operator
- Bolting and welding to foundations
- Lubrication and repair of installed machines
AI & the future of this role
Placing, aligning, and relocating heavy equipment from blueprints is precision physical work in unpredictable plant layouts. Digital plans may guide sequencing, but liability around rigging, leveling, and commissioning still favors experienced crews on site.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details