With the recent uptick in interest in the skilled trades, high school students are starting to show an interest in pursuing Millwright careers after graduation. While most students are aware of careers in plumbing, carpentry, or even HVAC, few know about millwrights. Wheelhouse Industrial owner Clint Retterath is out to change that and raise awareness of this important trade.
Clint recently attended a career fair at Buffalo High School, sharing information on what a Millwright does and how to get into the business. As someone who has been in the industry for many years, Clint had some excellent advice for students interested in pursuing a career in the skilled trades.
Students were shown how technology integrates with the modern welding process with a live demo.
What is a Millwright?
A Millwright is a skilled tradesman who installs, maintains, and repairs machinery and other industrial equipment. They are responsible for everything from setting up and installing new machinery to performing routine maintenance and repairs.
How much do Millwrights make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for Millwrights is approximately $52,000 per year. This amount can vary depending on many factors, including education, experience, and location. However, it is possible to earn a six-figure income in this field with hard work and dedication. Specialization in a particular niche can also help to boost your earning potential as a Millwright.
Millwright Careers: How to become a Millwright
There are many ways to become a Millwright, but most involve completing an apprenticeship or vocational training program. Apprenticeships typically last 3-4 years and combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Vocational programs can be completed in as little as six months but generally take 1-2 years to complete. Both types of programs will prepare you for the rigors of the job and help you get your foot in the door of this exciting career.
To learn more about careers in Millwright Services, you can contact Clint by email or phone. He’s always happy to help students and parents navigate the process of heading down this career path.
About Clint Retterath
Clint Retterath, founder and President of Wheelhouse Industrial, comes from a long lineage of millwrights. In fact, twelve members of his family have chosen this challenging but rewarding profession. As his father was also a millwright, it was expected that Clint would follow in these footsteps and become the 13th family member to enter this line of work.
And so, he did. On July 5th, 1978 – just after high school graduation – Clint began working as a millwright himself. He often remarks how thankful he is for this job as it gives him unique insight into how America runs behind the scenes.
Clint has had plenty of experience with many companies, including his father’s. He completed 7,000 hours of field and classroom training as part of a millwright union apprenticeship program. Clint worked in the field for 13 years before eventually transitioning to business development. By leveraging the relationships he built up over his career and creating new ones, Clint found that he enjoyed helping solve clients’ issues and was good at it too.
Clint’s extensive knowledge and experience allowed him to create Wheelhouse Industrial with the goal of aiding industrial plants to run smoothly. If facility managers, plant managers, engineers, or general contractors need on-site assistance and guidance, they know they can count on Clint.
