HVAC technician salary in Montana
Median $29.26 an hour for 1,230 hvac and refrigeration technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
HVAC technician pay in Montana: the full range
Montana ranks 26th of 51 states for median hvac technician pay, and 27th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.93). 1,230 hvac and refrigeration technicians work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $20.14 – $23.15 | $41,900 – $48,150 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.15 – $36.44 | $48,150 – $75,790 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $36.44 – $39.05 | $75,790 – $81,230 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
HVAC technician pay by metro in Montana
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $24.00 | $35.08 | $43.03 | 210 | 20% above |
| Helena | $22.10 | $30.13 | $38.02 | 100 | 3% above |
| Billings | $20.14 | $29.92 | $37.88 | 300 | 2% above |
| Great Falls | $20.00 | $29.17 | $39.05 | 150 | about the same as |
| Missoula | $21.39 | $28.96 | $36.47 | 180 | 1% below |
HVAC technician wages in Montana over time
Table
| Year | Montana $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.73 | $26.53 | $14.50 | — |
| 2000 | $15.98 | $29.88 | $15.76 | 220 |
| 2001 | $15.36 | $27.92 | $16.35 | 360 |
| 2002 | $17.68 | $31.64 | $16.78 | 430 |
| 2003 | $17.79 | $31.13 | $16.90 | 540 |
| 2004 | $15.88 | $27.06 | $17.43 | 520 |
| 2005 | $15.88 | $26.18 | $17.81 | 320 |
| 2006 | $15.24 | $24.34 | $18.11 | 450 |
| 2007 | $16.26 | $25.25 | $18.44 | 370 |
| 2008 | $17.78 | $26.59 | $19.08 | 500 |
| 2009 | $18.45 | $27.69 | $19.76 | 470 |
| 2010 | $18.39 | $27.15 | $20.45 | 620 |
| 2011 | $19.86 | $28.42 | $20.86 | 510 |
| 2012 | $21.36 | $29.95 | $20.98 | 570 |
| 2013 | $24.12 | $33.33 | $21.10 | 590 |
| 2014 | $23.50 | $31.96 | $21.46 | 590 |
| 2015 | $19.49 | $26.47 | $21.69 | 730 |
| 2016 | $21.36 | $28.65 | $22.07 | 920 |
| 2017 | $21.21 | $27.86 | $22.64 | 950 |
| 2018 | $21.04 | $26.98 | $22.89 | 1,120 |
| 2019 | $21.32 | $26.85 | $23.43 | 1,090 |
| 2020 | $22.23 | $27.65 | $24.32 | 1,250 |
| 2021 | $23.00 | $27.33 | $23.38 | 1,540 |
| 2022 | $23.63 | $25.99 | $24.71 | 1,230 |
| 2023 | $24.95 | $26.36 | $27.55 | 1,340 |
| 2024 | $28.17 | $28.91 | $28.75 | 1,050 |
| 2025 | $29.26 | $29.26 | $29.33 | 1,230 |
In today's dollars, the median hvac technician wage in Montana changed by +10.5% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Montana?
Contractor pay by county
Average pay at plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just hvac technicians), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
| County | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadwater County | 22 | $87,317 | $1,679 |
| Cascade County | 691 | $84,953 | $1,634 |
| Gallatin County | 1,126 | $80,774 | $1,553 |
| Missoula County | 796 | $79,681 | $1,532 |
| Yellowstone County | 928 | $77,527 | $1,491 |
| Deer Lodge County | 30 | $75,712 | $1,456 |
| Silver Bow County | 76 | $74,896 | $1,440 |
| Lewis and Clark County | 348 | $68,626 | $1,320 |
| Flathead County | 641 | $65,726 | $1,264 |
| Custer County | 22 | $65,711 | $1,264 |
| Sanders County | 25 | $64,738 | $1,245 |
| Jefferson County | 90 | $59,664 | $1,147 |
| Madison County | 24 | $59,162 | $1,138 |
| Valley County | 19 | $58,866 | $1,132 |
| Ravalli County | 152 | $56,535 | $1,087 |
| Hill County | 38 | $54,068 | $1,040 |
| Pondera County | 22 | $53,721 | $1,033 |
| Carbon County | 26 | $50,051 | $963 |
| Fergus County | 21 | $49,214 | $946 |
| Lincoln County | 44 | $43,958 | $845 |
Keep comparing
HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Montana
Questions this page answers
How much do hvac technicians make in Montana?
The median hvac technician in Montana earned $29.26 an hour ($60,850 a year) in May 2025, about the same as the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $23.15–$36.44; the top 10% earn more than $39.05.
Where does Montana rank for hvac technician pay?
Montana ranks 26th of 51 states for hvac technician pay, with a median of $29.26 an hour, and 27th after adjusting for Montana's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.6, US = 100).
What is the union hvac technician rate in Montana?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a hvac technician classification for most Montana counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many hvac technicians work in Montana?
BLS counted 1,230 hvac and refrigeration technicians in Montana in May 2025, 2.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.91; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Montana and metro areas, SOC 49-9021.
- 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.