How to Become a Millwright in West Virginia (2026)

West Virginia employs about 330 millwrights earning a median $67,270 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most millwrights train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in West Virginia.

West Virginia employs approximately 330 millwrights according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $67,270 1. The state’s concentration of millwright jobs is 1.80x 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 West Virginia, 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 (West Virginia): $67,270 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Millwright in West Virginia

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

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 West Virginia? The median annual wage for millwrights in West Virginia is $67,270 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $49,120 and experienced professionals can earn $82,910 or more 1.

How to Become a Millwright in West Virginia

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. West Virginia’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships 3.

Contact Information:

  • Office: West Virginia Community and Technical College System
  • Address: 1018 Kanawha Blvd E., Charleston, WV 25301
  • Phone: (304) 558-0265
  • Email: [email protected]

Millwright Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

Millwrights Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Huntington-Ashland130$60,880$67,810$58,800$79,380
Washington-Arlington-AlexandriaN/A$55,430$60,940$51,620$82,020

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 West Virginia? West Virginia currently employs approximately 330 millwrights 1. Nationally, millwright employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in West Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in West Virginia. You can also contact the Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do millwrights earn in West Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for millwrights in West Virginia is $67,270, which is $2,100 above the national median of $65,170 according to BLS data 1.

In West Virginia

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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. Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships: https://workforcewv.org/images/files/job-seekers/REGISTERED_STATEWIDE_APPRENTICESHIP_SPONSORS.pdf ↩︎

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)