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The differences between millwrights and heavy duty mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a millwright, becoming a heavy duty mechanic takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a millwright has an average salary of $51,176, which is higher than the $49,563 average annual salary of a heavy duty mechanic.
The top three skills for a millwright include hand tools, hoists and dismantle. The most important skills for a heavy duty mechanic are CDL, hand tools, and preventive maintenance.
| Millwright | Heavy Duty Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $51,176 | $49,563 |
| Hourly rate | $24.60 | $23.83 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 102,942 | 51,609 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Average age | 49 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
A millwright is responsible for maintaining and operating machinery from necessary to advanced systems. Millwrights install and upgrade machine components for optimization through analyzing blueprints and specifications. They calibrate machinery and run diagnostic tests to ensure all equipment's high-quality performance for safe and smooth operations. A millwright must adhere to the workplace's safety procedures all the time to prevent hazards and delays. A millwright must have a broad knowledge of the technical and mechanical industry to set up equipment and repair defective machines.
Heavy-duty mechanics are skilled employees who are responsible for providing repairs and maintenance of mobile heavy-duty construction equipment. These mechanics must perform inspections on equipment such as bulldozers, cranes, and other heavy construction equipment to detect faults and malfunctions to ensure proper performance. They must test the repaired equipment to ensure that the repair works meet the specifications of the manufacturers. Heavy-duty mechanics must also provide a safe working environment and take special precautions to protect themselves against work-related injuries.
Millwrights and heavy duty mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Millwright | Heavy Duty Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $51,176 | $49,563 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $72,000 | Between $36,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lincoln, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Washington |
| Best paying company | CVR Energy | Granite Construction |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Construction |
There are a few differences between a millwright and a heavy duty mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Millwright | Heavy Duty Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between millwrights' and heavy duty mechanics' demographics:
| Millwright | Heavy Duty Mechanic | |
| Average age | 49 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 1.1% White, 81.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |