How to Become a Millwright in Iowa (2026)

Iowa employs about 690 millwrights earning a median $62,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most millwrights train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Iowa.

Iowa employs approximately 690 millwrights according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,220 1. The state’s concentration of millwright jobs is 1.71x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Iowa, 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 (Iowa): $62,220 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Millwright in Iowa

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

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 Iowa? The median annual wage for millwrights in Iowa is $62,220 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,050 and experienced professionals can earn $79,710 or more 1.

How to Become a Millwright in Iowa

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

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

Contact Information:

  • Office: Iowa Workforce Development
  • Address: 1000 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319
  • Phone: (515) 725-3675
  • Email: [email protected]

Millwright Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

Millwrights Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Omaha230$62,960$64,680$47,500$78,850
Des Moines-West Des Moines100$63,950$67,320$48,290$77,930
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island80$61,260$62,000$39,260$83,270
Cedar Rapids60$60,900$65,180$50,500$78,220
Sioux City40$62,450$65,140$49,220$76,740

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 Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 690 millwrights 1. Nationally, millwright employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do millwrights earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for millwrights in Iowa is $62,220, which is $2,950 below the national median of $65,170 according to BLS data 1.

In Iowa

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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


  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Iowa Office of Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/registered-apprenticeship ↩︎

Data sources

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

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)