What is the best state for millwrights?

After cost of living, New Jersey: the median of $107,540 a year buys about what $98,840 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays millwrights the most?

Before adjusting for prices, New Jersey has the highest median, $107,540. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 48.

What is the worst state for millwrights after cost of living?

Virginia, where the median of $51,430 buys about what $50,870 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for millwrights

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, New Jersey is the best-paying state for millwrights: its median of $107,540 a year buys what $98,840 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. It also has the highest pay before adjusting.

Millwright pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	New Jersey$107,540 median · prices 108.8	$98,840	$107,540	108.8
2	New Mexico$90,230 median · prices 92.2	$97,850	$90,230	92.2
3	Michigan$89,190 median · prices 96.2	$92,700	$89,190	96.2
4	Kansas$79,690 median · prices 90.1	$88,480	$79,690	90.1
5	Wisconsin$82,630 median · prices 94.1	$87,820	$82,630	94.1
6	Indiana$77,140 median · prices 93.3	$82,650	$77,140	93.3
7	Minnesota$78,570 median · prices 98.6	$79,670	$78,570	98.6
8	Colorado$81,440 median · prices 103.1	$79,030	$81,440	103.1
9	Ohio$73,220 median · prices 92.8	$78,920	$73,220	92.8
10	Kentucky$70,610 median · prices 90.2	$78,320	$70,610	90.2
11	Alaska$76,940 median · prices 102.4	$75,170	$76,940	102.4
12	West Virginia$67,270 median · prices 89.5	$75,160	$67,270	89.5
13	Louisiana$66,080 median · prices 88.2	$74,910	$66,080	88.2
14	Connecticut$76,810 median · prices 103.6	$74,130	$76,810	103.6
15	New York$79,560 median · prices 107.9	$73,720	$79,560	107.9
16	Missouri$66,480 median · prices 90.8	$73,200	$66,480	90.8
17	New Hampshire$76,190 median · prices 104.2	$73,140	$76,190	104.2
18	Washington$76,490 median · prices 107.0	$71,480	$76,490	107.0
19	Iowa$62,220 median · prices 87.8	$70,900	$62,220	87.8
20	California$77,950 median · prices 110.7	$70,400	$77,950	110.7
21	Maine$68,220 median · prices 97.0	$70,290	$68,220	97.0
22	South Dakota$61,820 median · prices 88.6	$69,790	$61,820	88.6
23	Alabama$61,410 median · prices 88.8	$69,140	$61,410	88.8
24	Oregon$70,700 median · prices 103.4	$68,400	$70,700	103.4
25	North Dakota$60,750 median · prices 89.0	$68,290	$60,750	89.0
26	Idaho$64,710 median · prices 95.5	$67,760	$64,710	95.5
27	Wyoming$62,780 median · prices 92.7	$67,730	$62,780	92.7
28	Tennessee$61,810 median · prices 91.9	$67,280	$61,810	91.9
29	Mississippi$58,280 median · prices 87.0	$67,020	$58,280	87.0
30	Nebraska$60,320 median · prices 90.1	$66,950	$60,320	90.1
31	North Carolina$62,990 median · prices 94.3	$66,780	$62,990	94.3
32	Illinois$66,640 median · prices 100.0	$66,670	$66,640	100.0
33	Pennsylvania$64,410 median · prices 97.6	$66,010	$64,410	97.6
34	South Carolina$61,700 median · prices 93.7	$65,810	$61,700	93.7
35	Vermont$64,180 median · prices 98.0	$65,520	$64,180	98.0
36	Georgia$62,760 median · prices 96.3	$65,180	$62,760	96.3
37	Arkansas$56,310 median · prices 86.9	$64,770	$56,310	86.9
38	Texas$62,630 median · prices 97.1	$64,530	$62,630	97.1
39	Utah$63,040 median · prices 98.9	$63,760	$63,040	98.9
40	Montana$60,050 median · prices 94.6	$63,450	$60,050	94.6
41	Nevada$63,040 median · prices 100.0	$63,050	$63,040	100.0
42	Massachusetts$65,220 median · prices 105.8	$61,670	$65,220	105.8
43	Florida$62,000 median · prices 103.4	$59,950	$62,000	103.4
44	Delaware$58,770 median · prices 99.8	$58,880	$58,770	99.8
45	Oklahoma$50,950 median · prices 87.8	$58,000	$50,950	87.8
46	Arizona$57,380 median · prices 100.7	$56,990	$57,380	100.7
47	Maryland$59,220 median · prices 105.0	$56,420	$59,220	105.0
48	Virginia$51,430 median · prices 101.1	$50,870	$51,430	101.1

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full millwright pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for millwrights.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for millwrights (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-9044) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed millwrights. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for millwrights?: After cost of living, New Jersey: the median of $107,540 a year buys about what $98,840 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays millwrights the most?: Before adjusting for prices, New Jersey has the highest median, $107,540. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 48.
What is the worst state for millwrights after cost of living?: Virginia, where the median of $51,430 buys about what $50,870 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.