What apprenticeships are available for hvac technicians 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 an HVAC Technician in Montana (2026)

Q: How much do hvac technicians earn in Montana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), hvac technicians in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,850.

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

Montana currently employs approximately 1,230 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Q: What is the federal prevailing wage for hvac technicians in Montana?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians on federally funded construction projects in Montana earn a prevailing wage of approximately $40.00 per hour in base pay plus $22.07 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $62.07 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana employs about 1,230 hvac technicians earning a median $60,850 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most hvac technicians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Montana.

Compare HVAC Technician 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	College of Eastern Idaho	66.6	$3,390 in-state / $6,750 out-of-state	$55,123	39%	Yes*	234 mi
2	Miles Community College	65.0	$5,818 in-state / $10,626 out-of-state	$43,022	62%	Yes*	135 mi
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3	Casper College	62.5	$4,470 in-state / $10,770 out-of-state	$46,963	43%	Yes*	230 mi
4	Central Wyoming College	48.5	$4,800 in-state / $11,100 out-of-state	$43,068	37%	Yes*	190 mi
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5	Fort Peck Community College	33.2	$2,250	$31,073	17%	—	224 mi
6	Aaniiih Nakoda College	27.4	$3,080	$35,626	34%	—	190 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 1,230 hvac technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,850 ¹. Nationally, hvac technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 40,100 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an HVAC Technician 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): $60,850 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an HVAC Technician in Montana

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

How long does it take? Most paths into the hvac technician 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 hvac technicians earn in Montana? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Montana is $60,850 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $41,900 and experienced professionals can earn $81,230 or more ¹.

How to Become an HVAC Technician 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 as part of a registered apprenticeship or employer program in Montana.
Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in Montana, and confirm contractor versus worker rules with the state before working unsupervised.

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

HVAC Technician 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]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Montana

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians working on federally funded construction projects in Montana earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Montana general wage determinations show approximately $40.00 per hour in base pay plus $22.07 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $62.07 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) ⁴.

Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within hvac technician work.

HVAC Technician Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Wages by Metro Area in Montana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers wages in Montana vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Billings	300	$62,240	$61,870	$41,890	$78,800
Bozeman	210	$72,970	$71,160	$49,920	$89,510
Missoula	180	$60,240	$60,990	$44,500	$75,860
Great Falls	150	$60,670	$61,430	$41,600	$81,230
Helena	100	$62,670	$62,290	$45,970	$79,090

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 hvac technicians in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 1,230 hvac technicians ¹. Nationally, hvac technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% 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 hvac technicians earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Montana is $60,850, which is $1,040 above the national median of $59,810 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/ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎

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)