How to Become an Environmental Technician in Montana (2026)

Q: How much do environmental technicians earn in Montana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), environmental technicians in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $52,260 (using the related "Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other" BLS category, since environmental technician wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Montana is roughly 0.55 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for environmental technicians in Montana?

Montana currently employs approximately 130 workers in the related "Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana environmental science and protection technicians, including health earn a median annual wage of $60,550 ($29.11/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 70 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 9.9% above the national median of $55,090 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,550 ($29.11/hr)
25th percentile: $48,980 per year
75th percentile: $76,330 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $80,730 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $45,700 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 70
Versus national median: 9.9% above the U.S. median of $55,090
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.61 - this occupation is less concentrated in Montana than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Montana employs about 130 environmental technicians earning a median $52,260 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other”). Most environmental technicians train through an approved program before entering the field in Montana.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Montana employs approximately 130 workers in the related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category (SOC 19-4099), with a median annual wage of $52,260 ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 3.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 10,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Environmental Technician in Montana, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track environmental technician salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other (SOC 19-4099). Actual environmental technician earnings may vary.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (Montana): $52,260 per year (based on related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category) ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Environmental Technician in Montana

How to become an Environmental Technician in Montana? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for environmental technicians in Montana.

How long does it take? environmental technician training length in Montana varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do environmental technicians earn in Montana? The BLS does not track environmental technician wages separately. Based on the related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category, the median annual wage in Montana is $52,260, with entry-level wages around $44,120 and experienced workers earning $72,780 or more ¹.

How to Become an Environmental Technician in Montana

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Montana training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved environmental technician program in Montana that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
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 environmental technicians in Montana before you start working.

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

Environmental Technician Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health Wages by Metro Area in Montana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), environmental science and protection technicians, including health wages in Montana vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Missoula	40	$52,260	$57,240	$44,080	$79,440
Bozeman	30	$50,700	$57,110	$49,940	$81,860

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 environmental technicians in Montana? Montana employs approximately 130 workers in the related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 3.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Montana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Montana.

How much do environmental technicians earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for environmental technicians in Montana is $52,260 (based on the related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category), which is $7,870 below the national median of $60,130 according to BLS data ¹.

In Montana

Best Trade Schools in Montana (2026)

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)