Estimated — not yet source-verified.Estimated - not yet source-verified. This cost range is a general knowledge estimate we have not yet confirmed against current regional pricing data. Treat it as a rough guide only and get local contractor quotes.
Contractor costs in Montana
Regional labor cost ranges for common DIY projects in Montana. These are estimates for planning purposes - always get multiple quotes from licensed local contractors.
Construction labor wages in Montana
Official BLS data · OEWS 2024The actual pay range for 18 building trades in Montana — 10th percentile, median, and 90th percentile hourly wages straight from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the verified labor-cost floor behind the project estimates below, not a national average.
Scroll the table horizontally to compare all wage columns. Keyboard: focus the table, then use the arrow keys.
| Trade | 10th %ile | Median /hr | 90th %ile | Employed in MT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction supervisors | $25.01 | $36.05 | $49.07 | 4,880 |
| Carpenters | $21.48 | $27.94 | $36.65 | 4,240 |
| Cement masons & concrete finishers | $20.75 | $26.55 | $35.00 | 810 |
| Drywall & ceiling-tile installers | $17.96 | $22.13 | $30.00 | 150 |
| Tile & stone setters | $20.49 | $24.25 | $33.51 | 300 |
| Floor layers (non-carpet) | $12.51 | $13.13 | $26.65 | 80 |
| Carpet installers | $11.98 | $13.43 | $22.95 | 180 |
| Painters | $16.62 | $23.52 | $31.56 | 980 |
| Glaziers | $17.18 | $23.30 | $30.62 | — |
| Insulation workers | $16.80 | $23.93 | $43.37 | 510 |
| Plasterers & stucco masons | $20.49 | $26.43 | $34.62 | 40 |
| Brickmasons & blockmasons | $23.80 | $31.29 | $37.39 | 210 |
| Roofers | $21.80 | $23.57 | $31.32 | 360 |
| Electricians | $23.09 | $33.16 | $41.11 | 2,830 |
| Plumbers & pipefitters | $22.31 | $37.47 | $45.17 | 1,810 |
| HVAC technicians | $19.04 | $28.17 | $38.10 | 1,050 |
| Equipment operators | $22.33 | $28.91 | $37.36 | 3,610 |
| Construction laborers | $18.06 | $23.67 | $30.22 | 4,720 |
How building-trade pay has moved since 2019
Median hourly wage by year for Montana's headline trades — a 6-year OEWS series (2019–2024) that deepens with each annual BLS release.
$21.54 in 2019 → $27.94 in 2024
$28.63 in 2019 → $33.16 in 2024
$28.50 in 2019 → $37.47 in 2024
$18.27 in 2019 → $23.67 in 2024
State-specific BLS wage signals
These comparisons are calculated from the same official OEWS 2024 rows above, so they vary by Montana's actual trade mix instead of repeating a national average. These are worker wages, not contractor billing rates - a contractor's quote adds overhead, insurance, equipment, and margin.
Highest median wage in state
Plumbers & pipefitters
$37.47/hr
Source: BLS OEWS 2024
Largest reported construction trade
Construction supervisors
4,880 employed
Source: BLS OEWS 2024
Biggest premium vs trade median
Plumbers & pipefitters
+$7.41/hr vs $30.06
Median across states with this BLS trade row, OEWS 2024
Fastest median-wage growth
Plasterers & stucco masons
+ 93% since 2019
Source: BLS OEWS 2019-2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS 2019–2024. These are worker wages, not contractor billing rates — a contractor's quote adds overhead, insurance, equipment, and margin (commonly 1.5–3× the base wage).
Find a contractor in Montana
When a project is beyond DIY scale, get quotes from licensed local contractors. Always verify contractor license status with Montana's contractor licensing board.