How to Become a Home Inspector in Montana (2026)

Q: How long does home inspector training take in Montana?

Most people become a Home Inspector in Montana through a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary.

Q: How much do home inspectors earn in Montana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), home inspectors in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $75,700. Employment concentration in Montana is roughly 0.60 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for home inspectors in Montana?

Montana currently employs approximately 290 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | Brad Fishbein Reviewed by Brad Fishbein, Florida Licensed Mold Assessor (MRSA1408), Council-certified Microbial Investigator

Montana construction and building inspectors earn a median annual wage of $75,700 ($36.39/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 290 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 1.4% above the national median of $74,690 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $75,700 ($36.39/hr)
25th percentile: $61,110 per year
75th percentile: $84,240 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $100,850 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $49,840 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 290
Versus national median: 1.4% above the U.S. median of $74,690
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.60 - 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 290 home inspectors earning a median $75,700 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Home Inspector here means completing a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Home Inspector 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	Utah Valley University	80.2	$6,507 in-state / $18,489 out-of-state	$66,978	45%	Yes*	460 mi
2	Bellingham Technical College	69.4	$4,431 in-state / $5,809 out-of-state	Not reported	42%	Yes*	549 mi
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3	Edmonds College	67.5	$4,810 in-state / $10,875 out-of-state	$52,875	29%	Yes*	534 mi
4	Butte College	67.2	$1,356 in-state / $9,276 out-of-state	$51,432	45%	Yes*	733 mi
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5	Brigham Young University-Idaho	65.8	$4,800	$56,787	55%	Yes*	217 mi
6	Centralia College	56.5	$5,266 in-state / $5,651 out-of-state	$52,981	42%	—	566 mi
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7	Western Nevada College	56.1	$4,168 in-state / $12,834 out-of-state	$50,403	41%	Yes*	694 mi
8	Aims Community College	52.8	$2,258 in-state / $11,786 out-of-state	$51,704	40%	Yes*	546 mi
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9	Salt Lake Community College	51.6	$4,426 in-state / $14,244 out-of-state	$55,279	29%	Yes*	434 mi
10	Chemeketa Community College	49.9	$6,345 in-state / $14,040 out-of-state	$50,594	21%	Yes*	591 mi
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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 290 home inspectors according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $75,700 ¹. Nationally, home inspector employment is projected to grow -0.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Home Inspector in Montana, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: home-inspector training program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary
Exam: state home-inspector exam where required; otherwise ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI
Median wage (Montana): $75,700 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Home Inspector in Montana

How to become a Home Inspector in Montana? Complete a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Montana? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do home inspectors earn in Montana? The median annual wage for home inspectors in Montana is $75,700 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $49,840 and experienced professionals can earn $100,850 or more ¹.

How to Become a Home Inspector in Montana

Complete inspector training. Finish a home-inspector course. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Hour totals vary; confirm with the program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass a state exam only where the state licenses inspectors. Some states require a home-inspector license; others do not. Confirm whether Montana licenses this occupation.
Optional ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI credentials. Those credentials help hiring. They do not replace a state license in states that license the occupation.
Confirm with a real board only. Do not treat a contractor class as the inspector credential. Confirm current rules with the employer.

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

Home Inspector License Requirements in Montana

Some states require a home-inspector license; others do not. Confirm whether Montana licenses this occupation. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary.

Typical path

Complete a home-inspector course.
Pass the state exam only in states that license home inspectors.
Optional ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI credentials.

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

Home Inspector Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Construction and Building Inspectors Wages by Metro Area in Montana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Helena	60	$80,830	$75,650	$52,510	$80,830
Billings	40	$74,960	$73,860	$50,410	$102,280
Bozeman	40	$96,530	$90,650	$53,760	$120,410
Great Falls	30	$71,280	$72,220	$61,110	$97,470

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 home inspectors in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 290 home inspectors ¹. Nationally, home inspector employment is projected to grow -0.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a home inspector in Montana with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.

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 home inspectors earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home inspectors in Montana is $75,700, which is $3,580 above the national median of $72,120 according to BLS data ¹.

In Montana

Best Trade Schools in Montana (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Montana

Citations

Meet the author: Brad Fishbein is a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor and council-certified Microbial Investigator. He is the founder of TradeCareerPath.com and has completed over 5,000 mold inspections since 2009. Brad helps homeowners and tradespeople make informed decisions about mold, licensing, and skilled career paths.

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)