"How long does it take to become a carpenter in Montana?"

"Most paths into the carpenter field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for carpenters in Montana?"

"In Montana, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Montana Apprenticeship and Training Program, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Carpenter in Montana

Q: "How much do carpenters earn in Montana?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $58,820. Employment concentration in Montana is about 1.83 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for carpenters in Montana?"

"Montana currently employs approximately 4,030 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Q: "What is the federal prevailing wage for carpenters in Montana?"

"Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in Montana earn a prevailing wage of approximately $20.51 per hour in base pay plus $7.13 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $27.64 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026)."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana carpenters earn a median annual wage of $58,820 ($28.28/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,030 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.9% below the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $58,820 ($28.28/hr)
25th percentile: $49,590 per year
75th percentile: $67,530 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $77,140 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $43,010 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 4,030
Versus national median: -2.9% below the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.83 - this occupation is more concentrated in Montana than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Montana employs approximately 4,030 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,820 ¹. The state’s concentration of carpenter jobs is 1.83x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 74,100 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a carpenter in Montana, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Carpenter in Montana

How do I become a carpenter in Montana? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for carpenters in Montana.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do carpenters earn in Montana? The median annual wage for carpenters in Montana is $58,820 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,010 and experienced professionals can earn $77,140 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Montana): $58,820 per year ¹

Carpenter Apprenticeship Information in Montana

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Montana’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Montana Apprenticeship and Training Program ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship and Training Program, Montana Department of Labor & Industries
Address: 111 North Sanders Street, Helena, MT 59601-4520
Phone: (406) 444-4100
Email: [email protected]

Carpenter Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Montana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), carpenters wages in Montana vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Bozeman	900	$62,450	$65,740	$48,660	$80,540
Billings	530	$58,950	$57,930	$39,830	$75,940
Missoula	400	$57,160	$56,900	$40,540	$69,320
Great Falls	370	$58,790	$59,370	$44,320	$74,590
Helena	310	$58,490	$58,940	$40,230	$77,570

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 2025.

Top Metros for Carpenters in Montana

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest carpenter employment within Montana according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Bozeman	900	$62,450
Billings	530	$58,950
Missoula	400	$57,160
Great Falls	370	$58,790
Helena	310	$58,490

Explore carpenter programs in Bozeman, Billings, and Missoula.

Federal Prevailing Wage in Montana

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in Montana earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Montana general wage determinations show approximately $20.51 per hour in base pay plus $7.13 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $27.64 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) ⁴.

Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within carpenter work.

Explore More Trades in Montana

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for carpenters in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 4,030 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Montana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Montana. You can also contact the Montana Apprenticeship and Training Program for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do carpenters earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in Montana is $58,820, which is $490 below the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Montana Apprenticeship and Training Program: http://apprenticeship.mt.gov/ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)