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 (2026)

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 about 4,030 carpenters earning a median $58,820 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Montana.

Compare Carpenter Schools in Montana

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Bridgerland Technical College	73.8	Contact school for pricing	$42,070	75%	Yes*	324 mi
2	Williston State College	70.1	$6,128	$54,746	42%	Yes*	283 mi
3	Ogden-Weber Technical College	63.7	Contact school for pricing	$47,224	53%	Yes*	357 mi
4	Northern Wyoming Community College District	60.3	$4,830 in-state / $11,130 out-of-state	$51,958	42%	Yes*	101 mi
5	Central Wyoming College	48.5	$4,800 in-state / $11,100 out-of-state	$43,068	37%	Yes*	190 mi
6	Davis Technical College	47.9	Contact school for pricing	$47,706	57%	—	371 mi
7	Highlands College of Montana Tech	40.9	$4,130 in-state / $10,950 out-of-state	$79,369	45%	—	193 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

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.

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

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in Montana

How to 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 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 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.

How to Become a Carpenter in Montana

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Montana training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Montana that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to carpenters in Montana before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

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]

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.

Carpenter Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Montana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( 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 .

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 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.

In Montana

Best Trade Schools in Montana (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Montana

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)