How long does graphic designer training take in Montana?

Most people become a Graphic Designer in Montana through a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role.

Do graphic designers need a license in Montana?

No statewide license is required for graphic designers in Montana. See the licensing section above for the credential path.

How to Become a Graphic Designer in Montana (2026)

Q: How much do graphic designers earn in Montana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), graphic designers in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $56,890.

Q: What is the job outlook for graphic designers in Montana?

Montana currently employs approximately 610 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana employs about 610 graphic designers earning a median $56,890 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Graphic Designer here means completing a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role.

Compare Graphic Designer 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	Brigham Young University-Idaho	65.8	$4,800	$56,787	55%	Yes*	217 mi
2	Northwest College	59.3	$4,962 in-state / $11,262 out-of-state	$41,536	49%	Yes*	183 mi
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3	Flathead Valley Community College	54.5	$4,912 in-state / $11,659 out-of-state	$47,642	29%	Yes*	180 mi
4	Salish Kootenai College	53.5	$4,311 in-state / $11,583 out-of-state	$52,164	28%	—	154 mi
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5	Stone Child College	34.9	$3,610	$45,263	34%	—	108 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 610 graphic designers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $56,890 ¹. Nationally, graphic designer employment is projected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 20,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Graphic Designer in Montana, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: short course, certificate, or self-directed portfolio work (find programs)
Typical timeline: a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role
Median wage (Montana): $56,890 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Graphic Designer in Montana

How to become a Graphic Designer in Montana? Complete a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Montana? Licensing varies. See the licensing section below for the Montana path.

What do graphic designers earn in Montana? The median annual wage for graphic designers in Montana is $56,890 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,790 and experienced professionals can earn $104,780 or more ¹.

How to Become a Graphic Designer in Montana

Build skills and a portfolio. Complete a short course or certificate if you want structured training, then assemble a portfolio. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Optional industry credentials. Tool or association credentials can help hiring. They are not a state occupational license.
Most states do not license this role. Do not apply to a licensing board. Confirm employer expectations, not a state credential that does not exist.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Graphic Designer License Requirements in Montana

Most states do not license this role. The path is a portfolio and a short course or certificate, not a licensing board.

Typical path

Build skills through a short course, certificate, or OJT.
Assemble a portfolio.
Do not apply to a licensing board for this role.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Graphic Designer Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Graphic Designers Wages by Metro Area in Montana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Billings	110	$57,050	$59,760	$36,300	$95,990
Bozeman	100	$58,200	$64,480	$40,630	$98,440
Missoula	80	$61,930	$65,370	$38,370	$99,900
Great Falls	40	$49,150	$57,510	$37,940	$103,330
Helena	30	$63,690	$67,370	$44,080	$106,740

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 graphic designers in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 610 graphic designers ¹. Nationally, graphic designer employment is projected to grow 2.1% 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 graphic designers earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for graphic designers in Montana is $56,890, which is $4,410 below the national median of $61,300 according to BLS data ¹.

In Montana

Best Trade Schools in Montana (2026)

Top local programs

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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)