What does a millwright apprentice do?
A millwright apprentice is a skilled tradesman or high-precision craftsman who installs, repairs, maintains, or reassembles machinery in power plants, construction sites, and factories. Millwright apprentices perform forklift preventive maintenance on a daily basis. They assist electricians and millwrights while learning how to do their work. It is part of their duty to conduct preventive maintenance on Durco pumps, motors, and cranes. Also, they operate heavy machinery whenever necessary.
Millwright apprentice responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real millwright apprentice resumes:
- Measure, cut and install hangers using hand tools and ladders.
- Perform arc welding, MIG welding, TIG welding and oxyacetylene cutting.
- Align machines and equipment, using hoists, jacks, hand tools, squares, rules, micrometers and plumb bobs.
- Install hand rails and ladders.
- Repair pumps, motors and gearboxes.
- Install supports for pipe and blowers.
- Perform all welding repairs using arc and mig.
- Install air blowers to increase air conveyance of products.
- Replace electrical motors, change gears, pulleys and belts.
- Operate the rigging equipment and dollies to place heavy machinery and part.
- Use of torches, limit welding, and use of different saws for cutting metals.
- Work with outside vendors and contractors for HVAC upgrades and repairs and building expansion projects.
- Install and remove bearings, head and tail pulleys, motors, gearboxes, and pumps.
- Assist millwrights and electricians when necessary.
- Maintain machinery and assist millwrights with rebuilding and maintaining rotating and reciprocating equipment.
Millwright apprentice skills and personality traits
We calculated that 30% of Millwright Apprentices are proficient in Hoists, Dollies, and Boom Lifts. They’re also known for soft skills such as Mechanical skills, Manual dexterity, and Troubleshooting skills.
We break down the percentage of Millwright Apprentices that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Hoists, 30%
Moved machinery and equipment using hoists, come alongs, chainfalls, dollies, rollers, and trucks.
- Dollies, 16%
Used cranes, fork trucks, hoist pulleys, dollies and rollers to complete job properly and effectively.
- Boom Lifts, 11%
Work alongside heavy equipment including tract machines, cranes, boom lifts, and forklifts.
- Hand Tools, 4%
Assemble and install equipment, such as shafting, conveyors, and tram rails, using hand tools and power tools.
- Preventative Maintenance, 4%
Major emphasis of apprenticeship based upon machinery alignment, preventative maintenance, as well as removal, rebuilding, installation.
- Millwrights, 3%
Assisted millwrights and electricians when necessary.
Most millwright apprentices use their skills in "hoists," "dollies," and "boom lifts" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential millwright apprentice responsibilities here:
Mechanical skills. One of the key soft skills for a millwright apprentice to have is mechanical skills. You can see how this relates to what millwright apprentices do because "industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights use technical manuals and sophisticated diagnostic equipment to figure out why machines are not working." Additionally, a millwright apprentice resume shows how millwright apprentices use mechanical skills: "maintained hydraulic systems for oil bowl mills, grinding and regular mechanical repair, drove forklift as needed"
Manual dexterity. Another essential skill to perform millwright apprentice duties is manual dexterity. Millwright apprentices responsibilities require that "industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights must have a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination when handling very small parts." Millwright apprentices also use manual dexterity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "set and align motors, manually and with lasers troubleshoot work on vessels lock/out tag out"
Troubleshooting skills. millwright apprentices are also known for troubleshooting skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to millwright apprentice responsibilities, because "industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights must observe, diagnose, and fix problems that a machine may be having." A millwright apprentice resume example shows how troubleshooting skills is used in the workplace: "performed activities included troubleshooting, repairs, installed industrial machinery, fabricating, preventative maintenance and pipefitting welding. "
The three companies that hire the most millwright apprentices are:
- Rosboro4 millwright apprentices jobs
- EVRAZ North America2 millwright apprentices jobs
- Turner Industries2 millwright apprentices jobs
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Compare different millwright apprentices
Millwright apprentice vs. Industrial maintenance millwright
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, millwright apprentice responsibilities require skills like "dollies," "boom lifts," "preventative maintenance," and "millwrights." Meanwhile a typical industrial maintenance millwright has skills in areas such as "plant equipment," "cranes," "plc," and "machine tools." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Industrial maintenance millwrights really shine in the transportation industry with an average salary of $55,673. Comparatively, millwright apprentices tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $41,871.industrial maintenance millwrights tend to reach similar levels of education than millwright apprentices. In fact, industrial maintenance millwrights are 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Millwright apprentice vs. Construction millwright
Each career also uses different skills, according to real millwright apprentice resumes. While millwright apprentice responsibilities can utilize skills like "hoists," "dollies," "preventative maintenance," and "millwrights," construction millwrights use skills like "windows," "plant maintenance," "mill equipment," and "ariel."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Construction millwrights tend to reach similar levels of education than millwright apprentices. In fact, they're 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Millwright apprentice vs. Maintenance millwright
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a millwright apprentice is likely to be skilled in "boom lifts," "millwrights," "safety guidelines," and "drill holes," while a typical maintenance millwright is skilled in "ladders," "cranes," "mechanical maintenance," and "hydraulic pumps."
Most maintenance millwrights achieve a similar degree level compared to millwright apprentices. For example, they're 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Millwright apprentice vs. Precision millwright
Types of millwright apprentice
Updated January 8, 2025
