What Is a Millwright?
If you like to work with machines and tools and precision instruments, and have a keen eye for the perfect fit, you might consider being a millwright. Millwrights sometimes work to specifications requiring tolerances to a thousandth of an inch. Millwrights are an elite group of construction workers who work primarily in metal and with machinery and equipment requiring precision.
What Types of Jobs Are Done by Millwrights?
Millwrights install, maintain, diagnose and repair the machines that keep America running. These machines can be compressors, pumps, conveyors, monorails, extruders, gas and steam turbines, and mining equipment. Eery industry requires millwrights, such as pharmaceutical companies, steel mill refineries, auto plants, nuclear plants, mines and food processing facilities. Millwrights work inside and outside of facilities using hand and power tools, rigging and hoisting equipment, torches and welders, lasers, optical transits and precision measuring tools.
What Are the hours and Working Conditions of a Millwright?
Although millwrights work indoors much of the time, their duties also involve working on the outside of buildings and other structures, in situations often requiring the use of scaffolding. Millwrights work with a variety of hand and portable power tools, and frequently cut, join and fasten metal construction materials using welding equipment and oxy-acetylene torches. Generally, millwrights work eight-hour shifts. But, machinery breakdowns can happen unexpectedly and may require a millwright to travel long distances that include working overtime or split shifts. Working night shifts or overtime entitles the millwright to extra pay. A millwright has to be prepared to work in any condition, since the job could be inside or outside, clean or dirty, wet or dry, hot or cold. No matter what the conditions, millwrights pride themselves in getting the job done right and on time. Millwright apprentices usually start by helping journeymen with basic tasks like material handling and work into more sophisticated jobs as their skills and knowledge increase.
How Do I Become a Millwright?
It's great to be in this industry, but to get there, you have to work hard. Your training will be done by local experts through an apprenticeship program. To make sure your training is the best in the country, a group of experienced contractors and union representatives make sure you get the right instruction and earn a good wage at the same time. To start, call your local carpenters union office to get more information. Ask them how to become an Apprentice in the millwright program.
Does My High School Coursework Matter?
If you are still in school, you should take classes in mathematics, drafting or mechanical drawing, metal or industrial shop, or any construction courses which familiarize you with construction technology. These classes will help you develop the dexterity and practical thinking skills you will need as a millwright apprentice.
What Is an Apprentice?
Apprentices are earning a good income and learning a trade, all at once. Apprentices study both in the classroom and on the job under the guidance of skilled workers of that trade, call journeyman. From the first day of your apprenticeship, you are paid a wage and start to earn benefits. You also get regular raises for doing a good job usually every six months, until you reach the full journeyman scale at the end of the apprenticeship program. In most cases the length of your apprenticeship is four years, and your training is free.
What Makes This Opportunity So Special?
The rewards of apprenticeship training are the good wages and benefits you receive as a skilled craftsperson. Union millwrights belong to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and benefit from the security of being professional tradesmen. You will be working for a union contractor under the protection of a union contract, which means that you will probably have some form of health insurance and pension and welfare benefits. It pays to be the best you can be: an apprentice-trained professional millwright.
Professional millwrights are members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, a proud organization with more than 500,000 members.
