What apprenticeships are available for millwrights in California?

In California, registered apprenticeships are administered through the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Millwright in California (2026)

Q: How much do millwrights earn in California?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), millwrights in California earned a median annual wage of approximately $77,950. Employment concentration in California is roughly 0.47 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for millwrights in California?

California currently employs approximately 2,230 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

California millwrights earn a median annual wage of $77,950 ($37.48/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 18.6% above the national median of $65,700 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $77,950 ($37.48/hr)
25th percentile: $61,310 per year
75th percentile: $109,190 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $127,890 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $49,340 per year
Workers employed in California: 2,230
Versus national median: 18.6% above the U.S. median of $65,700
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.47 - this occupation is less concentrated in California than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

California employs about 2,230 millwrights earning a median $77,950 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most millwrights train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in California.

California employs approximately 2,230 millwrights according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $77,950 ¹. Nationally, millwright employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 3,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Millwright in California, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (California): $77,950 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Millwright in California

How to become a Millwright in California? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for millwrights in California.

How long does it take? Most paths into the millwright field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do millwrights earn in California? The median annual wage for millwrights in California is $77,950 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $49,340 and experienced professionals can earn $127,890 or more ¹.

How to Become a Millwright in California

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most California training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in California that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to millwrights in California before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Millwright Apprenticeship Information in California

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. California’s apprenticeship program is administered by the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Fresno Region
Phone: (559) 445-5431
Email: [email protected]

Millwright Wages by Metro Area in California

Millwrights Wages by Metro Area in California

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), millwrights wages in California vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	710	$99,250	$92,470	$50,390	$131,380
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	320	$113,490	$104,030	$49,330	$149,400
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	190	$69,880	$78,310	$45,400	$111,540
Bakersfield-Delano	130	$82,310	$75,550	$51,870	$82,310
Modesto	130	$49,810	$53,590	$43,470	$72,380
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	100	$79,840	$85,980	$62,380	$114,810
Redding	40	$59,580	$64,940	$58,820	$77,540
Santa Rosa-Petaluma	30	$65,200	$69,310	$62,450	$77,360

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for millwrights in California? California currently employs approximately 2,230 millwrights ¹. Nationally, millwright employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in California. You can also contact the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do millwrights earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for millwrights in California is $77,950, which is $12,780 above the national median of $65,170 according to BLS data ¹.

In California

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/das/aigstart.asp ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)