Construction Supervision Degree Programs in Montana (2026)

Quick answer: First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers in Montana earn a median $76,910 per year, below the national median of $79,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 4,350 of them. Licensing runs through your state contractor licensing board.

Construction Supervision Pay and Employment in Montana at a Glance

MetricMontanaNationalSource
Median annual wage$76,910$79,920BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$56,960$53,280BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$64,150$63,400BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$94,330$101,460BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$103,140$128,260BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment4,350812,210BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient1.631.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state5.3%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Montana Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Montana median of $76,910 sits below the national median of $79,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 1.63 puts Montana well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Montana

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Bozeman$79,500920
Great Falls$77,900250
Billings$76,450710
Helena$76,340330
Missoula$74,620490

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Supervision is hired off the local project pipeline. The commercial, industrial and public work active in a metro is what determines how many crews need a foreman.

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Wages by Metro Area in Montana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers wages in Montana vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Bozeman920$79,500$83,920$61,520$104,650
Billings710$76,450$80,150$57,820$103,400
Missoula490$74,620$75,910$53,760$96,040
Helena330$76,340$79,430$57,570$100,940
Great Falls250$77,900$77,380$55,600$98,540

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Montana Metro Areas With Published Data

Billings * Bozeman * Great Falls * Helena * Missoula

Licensing and Credentials in Montana

There is no license to supervise a construction crew. What gatekeeps the role is the trade credential underneath it plus site-safety training - the OSHA 30-hour construction course is the one employers ask for by name - and, on public work, the contractor license held by the employing firm rather than by the supervisor personally. Contractor licensing rules differ substantially between states.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state contractor licensing board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 3 schools within 167 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 3 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

The University of Montana

Missoula, MT 163.9 miles away BOC Score 43.8
Tuition $8,552 - $33,671
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 95.9%
  • Graduation rate: 46.6%
  • Programs offered: 70
  • Annual completions: 859
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,928 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Stone Child College

Box Elder, MT 109.8 miles away BOC Score 34.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 25
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $45,263 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Little Big Horn College

Crow Agency, MT 167.0 miles away BOC Score 20.6
Tuition $3,200 - $11,635
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 11.2%
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 6
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $27,429 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do construction supervisors make in Montana?

The median annual wage for construction supervisors in Montana is $76,910, below the national median of $79,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $64,150 at the 25th percentile to $94,330 at the 75th.

How many construction supervisors work in Montana?

Montana holds about 4,350 construction supervisor jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 812,210, and BLS projects about 74,400 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a construction supervisor in Montana?

There is no license to supervise a construction crew. What gatekeeps the role is the trade credential underneath it plus site-safety training - the OSHA 30-hour construction course is the one employers ask for by name - and, on public work, the contractor license held by the employing firm rather than by the supervisor personally. Contractor licensing rules differ substantially between states. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state contractor licensing board before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a construction supervision certificate or associate degree online while working in Montana?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state contractor licensing board.

What is the highest-paying area of Montana for construction supervisors?

Among Montana metro areas with published data, Bozeman reports the highest median at $79,500 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Montana a good state for construction supervisors?

On pay, the state median of $76,910 sits below the national $79,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.63 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (SOC 47-1011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.