How to Become a Construction Cost Estimator in Montana: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "How much does a construction cost estimator make in Montana?"

"The median annual wage for cost estimators in Montana is $77,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 2% below the national median of $78,740."

Q: "How do I become a construction cost estimator in Montana?"

"The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in construction management, building science, or business - with licensing administered at the state level: No license; ASPE/AACE certifications valued. See the steps below."

Q: "How many cost estimators work in Montana?"

"BLS counts about 1,230 cost estimators employed in Montana (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana cost estimators earn a median annual wage of $77,320 ($37.17/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -1.8% below the national median of $78,740 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $77,320 ($37.17/hr)
25th percentile: $62,130 per year
75th percentile: $91,990 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $106,740 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $50,120 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 1,230
Versus national median: -1.8% below the U.S. median of $78,740
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.67 - this occupation is more concentrated in Montana than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median construction cost estimator salary in Montana is $77,320 per year - 2% below the national median of $78,740 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in construction management, building science, or business.

Construction Cost Estimator Salary in Montana

Wage level	Annual salary
Montana entry level (10th percentile)	$50,120
Montana 25th-75th percentile	$62,130 - $91,990
Montana median	$77,320
Montana top earners (90th percentile)	$106,740
U.S. median	$78,740

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 1,230.

The Montana Job Market: Construction Cost Estimator

Metric	Value
Employed in Montana	1,230
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	2.41
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	1.67
Mean annual wage in Montana	$78,490

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.67, Montana employs cost estimators at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.

Requirements in Montana

The education path is national - Bachelor’s in construction management, building science, or business - while licensing runs through Montana’s own boards: No license; ASPE/AACE certifications valued. Verify current requirements with the Montana licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Construction Cost Estimator.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile - Cost Estimators

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Cost Estimators annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$48,530
25th	$61,150
50th (median)	$78,740
75th	$101,850
90th	$130,820

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Cost Estimators, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Cost Estimators employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	221,400
2034 projected	212,100
Percent change	-4.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a construction cost estimator make in Montana?

The median annual wage for cost estimators in Montana is $77,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 2% below the national median of $78,740.

How do I become a construction cost estimator in Montana?

The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in construction management, building science, or business - with licensing administered at the state level: No license; ASPE/AACE certifications valued. See the steps below.

How many cost estimators work in Montana?

BLS counts about 1,230 cost estimators employed in Montana (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Construction Cost Estimator in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Cost Estimators (SOC 13-1051), Montana and national
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34

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/.

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)