Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Montana

Median $28.28 an hour for 4,030 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$28.28/hrMedian hourly wageMontana, May data
$58,820/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$20.68 – $37.0910th to 90th percentilehourly range
4,030Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Carpenter pay in Montana: the full range

Wage percentiles, MontanaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMontana: 10th $20.68 · 25th $23.84 · median $28.28 · 75th $32.47 · 90th $37.09Montana$28.28$20.68$37.09United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Montana vs United States, May 2025.

Montana ranks 28th of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 21st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.89). 4,030 carpenters work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$20.68 – $23.84$43,010 – $49,590roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$23.84 – $32.47$49,590 – $67,530the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$32.47 – $37.09$67,530 – $77,140the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Montana

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrBozeman: $30.02Bozeman$30.02Billings: $28.34Billings$28.34Great Falls: $28.27Great Falls$28.27Helena: $28.12Helena$28.12Missoula: $27.48Missoula$27.48
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Montana, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Bozeman$23.40$30.02$38.729006% above
Billings$19.15$28.34$36.51530about the same as
Great Falls$21.31$28.27$35.86370about the same as
Helena$19.34$28.12$37.293101% below
Missoula$19.49$27.48$33.334003% below

Carpenter wages in Montana over time

Montana, 1999-2025MontanaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$28.28Montana
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Montana vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMontana $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.10$27.25$15.353,050
2000$13.45$25.15$15.693,980
2001$14.40$26.18$16.093,990
2002$14.95$26.75$16.444,640
2003$14.75$25.81$16.474,730
2004$16.41$27.97$16.784,820
2005$15.33$25.27$17.114,950
2006$15.33$24.48$17.575,910
2007$15.59$24.21$18.117,790
2008$16.24$24.28$18.727,730
2009$16.61$24.93$18.985,610
2010$16.59$24.49$19.004,100
2011$16.95$24.26$19.243,780
2012$17.13$24.02$19.203,500
2013$17.83$24.64$19.473,570
2014$18.08$24.59$19.633,480
2015$19.46$26.43$20.244,000
2016$19.18$25.73$20.964,270
2017$20.87$27.41$21.714,300
2018$20.17$25.86$22.404,550
2019$21.54$27.12$23.244,640
2020$21.62$26.89$23.814,730
2021$22.85$27.15$23.204,420
2022$22.99$25.29$24.714,800
2023$24.20$25.57$27.094,330
2024$27.94$28.68$28.514,240
2025$28.28$28.28$29.124,030

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Montana changed by +7.0% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Montana

On federally funded construction in Montana, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 13 of the 56 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $47.07 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $26.46). 43 of the 56 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Beaverhead County at $27.64). The market median for the state is $28.28.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MTBeaverhead: $27.64 (survey)Big Horn: $19.01 (survey)Blaine: $26.46 (survey)Broadwater: $27.64 (survey)Carbon: $47.07 (union)Carter: $19.01 (survey)Cascade: $47.07 (union)Chouteau: $26.46 (survey)Custer: $19.01 (survey)Daniels: $19.01 (survey)Dawson: $19.01 (survey)Deer Lodge: $27.64 (survey)Fallon: $19.01 (survey)Fergus: $26.80 (survey)Flathead: $18.53 (survey)Gallatin: $47.07 (union)Garfield: $19.01 (survey)Glacier: $26.46 (survey)Golden Valley: $26.46 (survey)Granite: $27.64 (survey)Hill: $47.08 (union)Jefferson: $27.64 (survey)Judith Basin: $26.46 (survey)Lake: $47.07 (union)Lewis and Clark: $25.51 (survey)Liberty: $26.46 (survey)Lincoln: $47.07 (union)McCone: $19.01 (survey)Madison: $30.30 (survey)Meagher: $27.64 (survey)Mineral: $47.07 (union)Missoula: $47.07 (union)Musselshell: $26.46 (survey)Park: $27.64 (survey)Petroleum: $26.46 (survey)Phillips: $19.01 (survey)Pondera: $26.46 (survey)Powder River: $19.01 (survey)Powell: $27.64 (survey)Prairie: $19.01 (survey)Ravalli: $47.07 (union)Richland: $19.01 (survey)Roosevelt: $47.08 (union)Rosebud: $19.01 (survey)Sanders: $47.07 (union)Sheridan: $19.01 (survey)Silver Bow: $47.07 (union)Stillwater: $26.46 (survey)Sweet Grass: $26.46 (survey)Teton: $26.46 (survey)Toole: $26.46 (survey)Treasure: $19.01 (survey)Valley: $19.01 (survey)Wheatland: $26.46 (survey)Wibaux: $19.01 (survey)Yellowstone: $47.07 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$19.01$26.46$26.80$47.07survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for carpenters by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)Prevailing (survey)$20$30$40$50/hrMineral (Missoula): market median $27.48, prevailing (union) $47.07, gap +$19.59Mineral (Missoula)+$19.59Cascade (Great Falls): market median $28.27, prevailing (union) $47.07, gap +$18.80Cascade (Great Falls)+$18.80Carbon (Billings): market median $28.34, prevailing (union) $47.07, gap +$18.73Carbon (Billings)+$18.73Gallatin (Bozeman): market median $30.02, prevailing (union) $47.07, gap +$17.05Gallatin (Bozeman)+$17.05Broadwater (Helena): market median $28.12, prevailing (survey) $27.64, gap −$0.48Broadwater (Helena)−$0.48
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Montana.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
HillUnion CARP0082-004 2025-06-01$32.05$15.03$47.08MT20260037
RooseveltUnion CARP0082-013 2025-06-01$32.05$15.03$47.08MT20260050
CarbonUnion CARP0082-014 2025-06-01$32.05$15.02$47.07MT20260061
CascadeUnion CARP0082-005 2025-06-01$32.05$15.02$47.07MT20260062
GallatinUnion CARP0082-009 2025-06-01$32.05$15.02$47.07MT20260033
LakeUnion CARP0028-007 2025-06-01$32.05$15.02$47.07MT20260039
LincolnUnion CARP0028-007 2025-06-01$32.05$15.02$47.07MT20260041
MineralUnion CARP0028-007 2025-06-01$32.05$15.02$47.07MT20260044
MissoulaUnion CARP0028-008 2025-06-01$32.05$15.02$47.07MT20260063
RavalliUnion CARP0028-007 2025-06-01$32.05$15.02$47.07MT20260060
SandersUnion CARP0028-007 2025-06-01$32.05$15.02$47.07MT20260060
Silver BowUnion CARP0082-002 2025-06-01$32.05$15.02$47.07MT20260052
YellowstoneUnion CARP0082-014 2025-06-01$32.05$15.02$47.07MT20260064
MadisonSurvey SUMT2011-018 2011-01-04$25.00$5.30$30.30MT20260042
BeaverheadSurvey SUMT2011-001 2011-01-04$20.51$7.13$27.64MT20260025

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Montana prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Montana?

39.8kConstruction jobsMontana, 2026-08
+0.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k10k20k30k40k50k1990199520002005201020152020202540kAug 2026
Construction employment in Montana (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Montana

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Montana?

The median carpenter in Montana earned $28.28 an hour ($58,820 a year) in May 2025, 3% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $23.84–$32.47; the top 10% earn more than $37.09.

Where does Montana rank for carpenter pay?

Montana ranks 28th of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $28.28 an hour, and 21st after adjusting for Montana's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.6, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Montana?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 13 counties, with a typical package of $47.07 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Montana?

BLS counted 4,030 carpenters in Montana in May 2025, 7.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.83; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Montana and metro areas, SOC 47-2031.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.