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How much do millwrights make in California in 2026?

Government wage survey, BLS OEWS May 2025. Updated June 2026.

In 2026, millwrights in California earn a median of $77,950 per year ($37.48/hr), according to BLS OEWS (May 2025). Pay rises with experience, license tier, and specialty. Last updated June 2026.

Median pay (50th pct)

$77,950/yr

Half of California millwrights earn between $61,310 and $109,190 per year.

$61,310/yr$77,950/yr$109,190/yr

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Highest-paying state
New Jersey · $107,540
Workers in California
2,230 (BLS 2025)
Pay range (p25–p75)
$61,310–$109,190

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Millwright pay in California: key numbers
Median pay$77,950/yr ($37.48/hr)
Pay range (25th–75th percentile)$61,310 – $109,190/yr
Millwrights employed in California2,230
SourceBLS OEWS May 2025
Last updatedJune 2026

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Wage benchmark for this trade

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BLS median, all millwrights in California

$77,950/yr

All workers, including union and non-union. Middle 50%: $61,310/yr to $109,190/yr.

BLS does not separate union status in these occupational wage figures. A local journeyman scale may describe a different geography and experience level. Compare actual benefits, overtime, and job terms separately.

No published union scale is included for this pair. That does not mean the trade has no union workers.

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Millwright pay in California

The median millwright pay in California is $77,950 per year according to BLS OEWS May 2025. Half of workers earn less than the median and half earn more. The middle 50% fall between $61,310 to $109,190. These figures describe the occupation across the state, not one employer or city.

At 2,080 hours per year, the median converts to $37.48/hr. This is an hourly equivalent of annual wages, not a separately observed hourly wage. Overtime premiums, unpaid time, taxes, and benefits are not calculated by that conversion.

No published union scale is included for this trade and state. Missing scale data does not establish whether workers are union members.

BLS occupational wage percentiles do not identify apprenticeship year, license tier, or years of experience. The 25th percentile is not an entry wage or a pay floor; the 75th percentile is not a master-license rate. Location, employer, responsibilities, benefits, and hours need their own evidence.

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How California compares

Millwright median by state

Millwright pay by metro in California

Median pay by metro area (BLS OEWS metro data)

Other trades in California

Median pay by trade

About this data

Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program (May 2025), the authoritative public source for occupational pay. Union figures are journeyman scales from IBEW/UA locals (approximate). Member submissions, added anonymously, never with a raw email address, refine these numbers over time.

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TradesPays. "Millwright Salary in California (2026): $77,950 Median." Based on BLS OEWS May 2025. https://tradespays.com/millwright/salary/california

Millwright pay in California: FAQ

What is the median millwright pay in California?
The median is $77,950 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025). This is the midpoint of the wage distribution, not the arithmetic average.
What is the wage range for millwrights in California?
The middle 50% of wages run from $61,310 to $109,190 per year. These are the 25th and 75th percentiles, not the lowest and highest wages (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Does this data separate union and non-union workers?
No. The BLS figures cover workers together, without a union-status split. No published union scale is included for this trade and state. Missing scale data does not establish whether workers are union members.
What does the data say about entry-level and apprentice pay?
BLS occupational wage percentiles do not identify apprenticeship year, license tier, or years of experience. The 25th percentile is not an entry wage or a pay floor; the 75th percentile is not a master-license rate. Location, employer, responsibilities, benefits, and hours need their own evidence.
Can I use this number to negotiate a raise?
Use it as a starting benchmark, not proof that your employer owes a particular rate. Compare the work, experience, geography, hours, and benefits. The free tool provides a benchmark-based opening script; it does not produce an experience-adjusted valuation.
Are these wages specific to my city?
No. They describe California statewide. Where published metro figures are available, the page lists them separately. A state percentile cannot be assigned to a city without city-level data.
How much do millwrights make an hour in California?
The median millwright in California earns about $37.48/hr, based on the $77,950/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025, at 2,080 hours a year). Overtime and union scale can run higher.
How much do millwrights make a month in California?
That is about $6,496/mo before taxes, from the $77,950/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025).

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