Montana prevailing wage rates, by county
Federal Davis-Bacon base + fringe for every Montana county, next to the market wage, with the determination numbers to cite.
Look up a Montana county
Key trades by county (Building)
Highest electrician packages
- 1Big Horn, Daniels and 10 more$62.09
- 2Beaverhead, Broadwater and 6 more$59.88
- 3Chouteau, Judith Basin and 7 more$58.91
Lowest
- 1Gallatin$27.55
- 2Flathead$33.32
- 3Carbon, Yellowstone$38.74
Building type, base + fringe per hour; counties sharing a rate are grouped. Swatch: union contract rate or survey rate. Select a county to see every classification.
| County | Electrician | Plumber | Carpenter | Construction laborer | Heavy equipment operator | Ironworker | Sheet metal worker | Painter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaverhead | $59.88 | $66.37 | $27.64* | $23.00* | $28.95* | $61.14 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Big Horn | $62.09 | $36.62* | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Blaine | $55.60 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Broadwater | $59.88 | $66.37 | $27.64* | $23.00* | $28.95* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Carbon | $38.74* | $61.47 | $47.07 | $35.77 | $49.08 | $62.13 | $62.14 | $45.78 |
| Carter | $58.76 | $61.47 | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Cascade | — | $66.37 | $47.07 | $19.64* | $26.91* | $62.13 | $62.14 | $45.78 |
| Chouteau | $58.91 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Custer | $58.76 | $61.47 | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Daniels | $62.09 | $36.62* | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Dawson | $62.09 | $61.47 | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Deer Lodge | $59.88 | $66.37 | $27.64* | $23.00* | $28.95* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Fallon | $58.76 | $61.47 | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Fergus | $55.60 | $36.62* | $26.80* | $21.74* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Flathead | $33.32* | $52.11 | $18.53* | $14.29* | $24.77* | $61.14 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Gallatin | $27.55* | $66.37 | $47.07 | $21.98* | $28.95* | $62.13 | $28.70* | $19.62* |
| Garfield | $58.76 | $61.47 | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Glacier | $55.60 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $61.14 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Golden Valley | $62.09 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Granite | $59.88 | $66.37 | $27.64* | $23.00* | $28.95* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Hill | $55.60 | $36.62* | $47.08 | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Jefferson | $59.88 | $66.37 | $27.64* | $23.00* | $28.95* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Judith Basin | $58.91 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Lake | $58.65 | $52.11 | $47.07 | $15.02* | $24.77* | $61.14 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Lewis and Clark | $58.47 | $66.37 | $25.51* | $22.91* | $28.95* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Liberty | $58.91 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Lincoln | $58.65 | $52.11 | $47.07 | $20.10* | $19.53* | $61.14 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Madison | $59.88 | $66.37 | $30.30* | $22.80* | $28.95* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| McCone | $62.09 | $36.62* | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Meagher | $43.72 | $66.37 | $27.64* | $23.00* | $28.95* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Mineral | $58.65 | $52.11 | $47.07 | $15.02* | $24.77* | $61.14 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Missoula | $58.65 | $60.08 | $47.07 | $35.77 | $26.91* | $61.14 | $62.14 | $25.19 |
| Musselshell | $58.91 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Park | $58.91 | $66.37 | $27.64* | $23.00* | $28.95* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Petroleum | $55.60 | $36.64* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Phillips | $58.76 | $61.47 | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Pondera | $55.60 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Powder River | $58.76 | $61.47 | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Powell | $59.88 | $60.08 | $27.64* | $23.00* | $28.95* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Prairie | $62.09 | $36.62* | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Ravalli | $58.65 | $52.11 | $47.07 | $15.02* | $24.77* | $61.14 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Richland | $62.09 | $36.62* | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Roosevelt | $62.09 | $36.62* | $47.08 | $13.59* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Rosebud | $58.76 | $61.47 | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Sanders | $58.65 | $52.11 | $47.07 | $15.02* | $24.77* | $61.14 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Sheridan | $62.09 | $36.62* | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Silver Bow | $59.88 | $66.37 | $47.07 | $35.77 | $28.95* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Stillwater | $62.09 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Sweet Grass | $58.91 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Teton | $58.91 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Toole | $58.91 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Treasure | $62.09 | $36.62* | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Valley | $58.76 | $61.47 | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Wheatland | $58.91 | $36.62* | $26.46* | $20.76* | $28.55* | $62.13 | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Wibaux | $62.09 | $36.62* | $19.01* | $17.58* | $28.55* | $33.21* | $62.07 | $19.18* |
| Yellowstone | $38.74* | $61.47 | $47.07 | $35.77 | $49.08 | $62.13 | $62.14 | $45.78 |
Building construction type, base + fringe per hour, current revision. * = survey rate. Not the official determination; use the lookup for the determination number and a link to the official text.
Rates that have not kept up
Survey-based rates that are eight or more years old and how they compare with today's market median for the county's metro (or state).
| County | Trade | Survey year | Required package $/hr | Market median $/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon | Electrician | 2011 | $38.74 | $38.93 |
| Flathead | Electrician | 2011 | $33.32 | $36.90 |
| Gallatin | Electrician | 2011 | $27.55 | $37.61 |
| Big Horn | Plumber | 2011 | $36.62 | $38.44 |
| Blaine | Plumber | 2011 | $36.62 | $38.44 |
| Chouteau | Plumber | 2011 | $36.62 | $38.44 |
| Beaverhead | Carpenter | 2011 | $27.64 | $28.28 |
| Big Horn | Carpenter | 2011 | $19.01 | $28.28 |
| Blaine | Carpenter | 2011 | $26.46 | $28.28 |
| Beaverhead | Construction laborer | 2011 | $23.00 | $23.96 |
| Big Horn | Construction laborer | 2011 | $17.58 | $23.96 |
| Blaine | Construction laborer | 2011 | $20.76 | $23.96 |
| Beaverhead | Heavy equipment operator | 2011 | $28.95 | $29.61 |
| Big Horn | Heavy equipment operator | 2011 | $28.55 | $29.61 |
| Blaine | Heavy equipment operator | 2011 | $28.55 | $29.61 |
| Big Horn | Ironworker | 2011 | $33.21 | $32.40 |
| Carter | Ironworker | 2011 | $33.21 | $32.40 |
| Custer | Ironworker | 2011 | $33.21 | $32.40 |
| Gallatin | Sheet metal worker | 2011 | $28.70 | $34.75 |
| Beaverhead | Painter | 2011 | $19.18 | $28.03 |
| Big Horn | Painter | 2011 | $19.18 | $28.03 |
| Blaine | Painter | 2011 | $19.18 | $28.03 |
Questions this page answers
What is the prevailing wage in Montana?
For federally funded construction, the Davis-Bacon determinations for Montana (79 active documents covering Building, Residential, Heavy and Highway work) set the required base wage and fringe by county and classification. Union-contract rates apply to electricians in 51 of 55 counties with a Building rate; the typical union package is $58.91 an hour.
How many Davis-Bacon determinations cover Montana?
79 active general wage determinations cover Montana: 40 Building, 14 Heavy, 1 Highway, 24 Residential. Together they list rates for 56 counties in the Building type shown here. State-funded projects may fall under a separate Montana prevailing wage law; this page covers the federal rates.
How often do the rates change?
The Department of Labor publishes modifications most Thursdays. The latest change to a Montana determination in our data is dated 2026-07-30. New determination numbers are issued each January.
Sources and notes
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations for Montana, current revisions as of 2026-09-28: Residential 24, Building 40, Heavy 14, Highway 1.
- BLS OEWS May 2025 for market medians.
- Classification labels normalised to trades by Skilled Wages; where a determination lists several electrician or laborer classes, the journeyman / general class is shown. The official text governs.