Millwrights are still called millwrights. The trade name has persisted since the 1700s because the core competency — installing, aligning, and maintaining complex mechanical systems — has not fundamentally changed, even as the equipment has evolved from grain mills to CNC machining centers and turbine generators.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies millwrights under Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 49-9044, and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) still charters dedicated Millwright local unions across the United States and Canada.
That said, job postings sometimes use alternative titles depending on the employer and the specific focus of the role. Common variations include industrial machinery mechanic, maintenance mechanic, precision alignment technician, and machinery installer. In Canada, the Red Seal designation uses “Industrial Mechanic (Millwright).”
Regardless of the title on the job posting, the work is the same: precision installation, alignment, maintenance, and repair of industrial equipment.