Millwrights Salary
The median pay for a millwrights in Kentucky is $70,610/year ($33.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $78,256 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 23.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in Kentucky?
About millwrights
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Millwrights pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $66K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 24.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level millwrights (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Millwrights salary by metro in Kentucky
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $77K | +10% | 50 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $76K | +8% | 490 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $66K | -6% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track millwrights salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a millwright afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 24.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for millwrights in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new millwrights typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,893/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is millwright a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $66K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for millwrights?
Kentucky pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do millwrights make in Kentucky?
The median is $70,610 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,210, and experienced millwrights can clear $86,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,603/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 24.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a millwrights salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median millwrights salary is worth about $78,256 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do millwrights get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.