What apprenticeships are available for cnc machinists 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 CNC Machinist in Montana (2026)

Q: How much do cnc machinists earn in Montana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,920. Employment concentration in Montana is roughly 0.67 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in Montana?

Montana currently employs approximately 630 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana machinists earn a median annual wage of $60,920 ($29.29/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 630 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 3.7% above the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,920 ($29.29/hr)
25th percentile: $48,030 per year
75th percentile: $68,760 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $81,810 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,940 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 630
Versus national median: 3.7% above the U.S. median of $58,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.67 - this occupation is less 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 630 cnc machinists earning a median $60,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most cnc machinists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Montana.

Compare CNC Machinist 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	Walla Walla Community College	70.4	$5,279 in-state / $6,700 out-of-state	$56,719	38%	Yes*	352 mi
2	Spokane Community College	68.4	$5,461 in-state / $6,612 out-of-state	$52,567	33%	Yes*	304 mi
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3	College of Southern Idaho	68.2	$3,360 in-state / $6,840 out-of-state	$46,129	33%	Yes*	344 mi
4	College of Eastern Idaho	66.6	$3,390 in-state / $6,750 out-of-state	$55,123	39%	Yes*	243 mi
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5	Northern Wyoming Community College District	60.3	$4,830 in-state / $11,130 out-of-state	$51,958	42%	Yes*	243 mi
6	Flathead Valley Community College	54.5	$4,912 in-state / $11,659 out-of-state	$47,642	29%	Yes*	180 mi
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7	Helena College University of Montana	50.2	$4,146 in-state / $11,318 out-of-state	$50,913	33%	Yes*	54 mi
8	North Idaho College	46.4	$3,396 in-state / $8,736 out-of-state	$50,312	38%	Yes*	277 mi
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9	Highlands College of Montana Tech	40.9	$4,130 in-state / $10,950 out-of-state	$79,369	45%	—	100 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 630 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,920 ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 29,500 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a CNC Machinist 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): $60,920 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a CNC Machinist in Montana

How to become a CNC Machinist in Montana? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for cnc machinists in Montana.

How long does it take? Most paths into the cnc machinist 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 cnc machinists earn in Montana? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Montana is $60,920 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,940 and experienced professionals can earn $81,810 or more ¹.

How to Become a CNC Machinist 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 cnc machinists in Montana before you start working.

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

CNC Machinist 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]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in Montana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Billings	140	$64,420	$71,040	$45,760	$116,970
Missoula	50	$60,060	$58,610	$41,950	$75,420
Bozeman	40	$66,500	$65,540	$41,740	$76,560
Great Falls	40	$59,340	$62,390	$36,730	$99,570

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 cnc machinists in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 630 cnc machinists ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% 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 cnc machinists earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Montana is $60,920, which is $4,770 above the national median of $56,150 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/ ↩︎

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)