Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Montana

Median $28.28 an hour for 4,030 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$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 2026-11-06

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. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$20.68 – $23.84$43,010 – $49,590roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.84 – $32.47$49,590 – $67,530the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$32.47 – $37.09$67,530 – $77,140the 75th to 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 $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Bozeman$23.40$30.02$29.29$38.729006% above
Billings$19.15$28.34$30.31$36.51530about the same as
Great Falls$21.31$28.27$29.20$35.86370about the same as
Helena$19.34$28.12$29.38$37.293101% below
Missoula$19.49$27.48$28.51$33.334003% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

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 and by +4.3% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Montana?

-13.1%Jobs since 20194,640 then, 4,030 in 2025
+0.8%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
7.9Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.8× the US share, 8th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Montana has changed by +32.1%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -13.1%.

Carpenters in Montana vs United States, 1999 = 100MontanaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages0100200300200020052010201520202025132Montana87United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Montana vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMontana jobsMontana indexUS index
19993,050100100
20003,980130111
20013,990131110
20024,640152111
20034,730155110
20044,820158114
20054,950162121
20065,910194128
20077,790255126
20087,730253117
20095,61018496
20104,10013480
20113,78012475
20123,50011574
20133,57011775
20143,48011480
20154,00013183
20164,27014088
20174,30014190
20184,55014993
20194,64015295
20204,73015591
20214,42014587
20224,80015790
20234,33014291
20244,24013990
20254,03013287

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for carpenters in Montana

+7.4%Projected growth in Montana2024–2034, state agency
470Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
5,830Jobs in 20246,260 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Montana's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +7.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,830 to 6,260, with about 470 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 4,030 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Montana labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

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 2026-11-06. 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?

38.7kConstruction jobsMontana, 2026-09
+0.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k10k20k30k40k50k1990199520002005201020152020202539kSep 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

More on 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).

Is carpenter work growing in Montana?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Montana went from 4,000 in 2015 to 4,030 in 2025, +0.8%, and -13.1% since 2019. Montana's labor market agency projects +7.4% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 5,830 to 6,260 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Montana?

Montana projects about 470 openings a year for carpenters over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 62,800 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Montana and metro areas, SOC 47-2031. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Montana labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.