How to Become a Plumber in Montana (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana employs about 1,860 plumbers earning a median $79,960 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most plumbers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Montana.

Compare Plumber 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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
173.8Contact school for pricing$42,07075%Yes*324 mi
266.6$3,390 in-state / $6,750 out-of-state$55,12339%Yes*234 mi
Sponsored Ad
363.7Contact school for pricing$47,22453%Yes*357 mi
460.4$8,294$49,93054%Yes*286 mi
Sponsored Ad
559.3Contact school for pricing$39,28484%—408 mi
651.6$4,426 in-state / $14,244 out-of-state$55,27929%Yes*393 mi
Sponsored Ad
747.9Contact school for pricing$47,70657%—371 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 1,860 plumbers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $79,960 1. The state’s concentration of plumber jobs is 1.22x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 44,000 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Plumber 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): $79,960 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Plumber in Montana

How to become a Plumber in Montana? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for plumbers in Montana.

How long does it take? Most paths into the plumber 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 plumbers earn in Montana? The median annual wage for plumbers in Montana is $79,960 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,250 and experienced professionals can earn $100,860 or more 1.

How to Become a Plumber in Montana

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Montana training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 apprenticeship sponsor or state apprenticeship office.

Plumber 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, plumbers 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 $46.45 per hour in base pay plus $19.92 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $66.37 (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 plumber work.

Plumber Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Wages by Metro Area in Montana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters wages in Montana vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Billings360$81,690$81,810$51,870$106,550
Bozeman350$81,310$77,220$55,690$97,440
Missoula290$79,750$77,630$48,150$98,390
Great Falls240$77,100$77,200$48,010$98,150

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 plumbers in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 1,860 plumbers 1. Nationally, plumber employment is projected to grow 4.5% 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 plumbers earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for plumbers in Montana is $79,960, which is $16,990 above the national median of $62,970 according to BLS data 1.

In Montana

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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Montana Apprenticeship and Training Program: http://apprenticeship.mt.gov/ ↩︎

  4. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)