Electrician Salary in Montana: What You Can Earn in 2026

Key Takeaways

• Montana electricians average $54,000 - $64,000 per year with Billings and Missoula offering the strongest wages.
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians earn a national median of $62,350/yr with 9% projected growth through 2034.
• Montana's growing renewable energy sector - wind and solar - is creating new electrical career opportunities statewide.
• Montana requires state journeyman and master electrician licensing for independent work.
• Mining and oil and gas extraction in eastern Montana create industrial electrical premium wages.
• Montana's vast geography and limited licensed electrician supply creates strong rural market opportunity for master electricians.

Electrician Salary in Montana

Montana is a unique electrician market shaped by the state's distinctive geography and economy. A vast state with fewer than 1.1 million residents, Montana spreads its electrical work across large distances - from the Billings oil country and Yellowstone Valley industrial corridor in the east to the Missoula and Great Falls residential and commercial markets in the west. The state's renewable energy development, particularly wind power on the eastern plains and solar on the western side, is creating new electrical career opportunities that did not exist a decade ago.

Montana's limited supply of licensed electricians relative to its geography creates an unusual market dynamic: master electricians who establish businesses in underserved areas of the state face very limited competition and can command premium rates for their services. The state's mining and oil and gas extraction industries add an industrial electrical dimension that pays well above residential work. This guide covers what electricians earn in Montana, the licensing requirements, and the best training options available in Big Sky Country.

Average Electrician Salary in Montana

According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, Montana electricians earn wages reflecting the state's small market size and geographic spread. Here is a typical salary range by experience level:

• Entry-Level Helper (0-2 years): $32,000 - $42,000 per year
• Registered Apprentice (2-4 years): $42,000 - $52,000 per year
• Journeyman Electrician: $54,000 - $66,000 per year
• Industrial Journeyman: $60,000 - $78,000 per year
• Master Electrician: $74,000 - $100,000 per year

Electrician Salary by City in Montana

• Billings: $56,000 - $72,000 per year - largest city with oil refining, healthcare, and commercial construction
• Missoula: $54,000 - $68,000 per year - university city with growing commercial and residential development
• Great Falls: $52,000 - $66,000 per year - military and regional market near Malmstrom AFB
• Bozeman: $56,000 - $72,000 per year - fastest-growing Montana city with booming residential construction
• Helena: $50,000 - $64,000 per year - state capital with government and institutional work
• Kalispell: $52,000 - $66,000 per year - growing market driven by Glacier Country tourism and in-migration

Montana vs. Neighboring States

• Montana: approximately $58,000 average - limited supply creates market opportunity
• Wyoming: approximately $60,000 average - energy sector premium pushes wages higher
• Idaho: approximately $61,000 average - growth boom creating upward pressure
• North Dakota: approximately $65,000 average - oil country premium significantly elevated
• South Dakota: approximately $52,000 average - smaller market with lower wages

License Requirements in Montana

• Step 1 - Enroll in Apprenticeship: Apply to a state-approved 4-5 year apprenticeship through IBEW or ABC Montana chapters
• Step 2 - Complete 8,000 Training Hours: Log required on-the-job training under a licensed electrician throughout the apprenticeship
• Step 3 - Pass the Journeyman Exam: Montana requires passing a state licensing exam to achieve journeyman electrician status
• Step 4 - Work as a Journeyman: Gain experience as a journeyman before qualifying for master electrician status
• Step 5 - Pass the Master Exam: Obtain master license to operate your own business, pull permits, and supervise others
• Step 6 - License Renewal: Montana requires periodic license renewal with continuing education requirements

Top Electrician Specialties in Montana

• Wind Energy Electrician: Montana's eastern plains wind power development creates growing specialty work for electricians trained in utility-scale wind turbine installation and maintenance
• Oil and Gas Industrial Electrician: Williston Basin oil fields extend into eastern Montana - industrial electrical work with premium wages and hazmat pay
• Commercial Electrician: Bozeman and Missoula's rapid growth drives commercial and residential electrical work at wages above the state average
• Mining Electrician: Montana's copper, gold, and coal mining operations require specialized industrial electricians with mining safety certifications
• Rural/Agricultural Electrician: Montana's vast agricultural sector - grain elevators, irrigated farms, and livestock operations - creates rural electrical work with limited competition

Job Outlook for Electricians in Montana

The BLS projects 9% national growth for electricians through 2034, and Montana's market has specific growth drivers in renewable energy and population in-migration that support solid ongoing demand. Bozeman is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States by percentage growth, driven by remote workers relocating from coastal markets who bring high incomes but need housing wired and commercial buildings built.

Montana's wind energy development is accelerating as the state exports renewable electricity to neighboring states through newly upgraded transmission lines. These large-scale wind projects create multi-year installation and maintenance electrical work in the eastern part of the state. The state's mining sector, while cyclical, remains active in copper, silver, and coal production with steady maintenance electrical needs at operating mines throughout the state.

Is Becoming an Electrician in Montana Worth It?

Montana offers an unusual electrician career proposition: moderate wages relative to national benchmarks, but extraordinary quality of life and significantly lower cost of living than comparable western states like Colorado or Washington. A journeyman electrician earning $60,000 in Missoula or Bozeman can afford a quality Montana lifestyle that would cost substantially more in Seattle or Denver. The state's limited electrician supply also means that master electricians who establish service businesses have far less competition than in more populous states.

The renewable energy and oil and gas industrial sectors add meaningful income opportunities for Montana electricians willing to pursue the additional certifications and travel requirements those roles involve. Wind project work in particular often involves sustained employment at premium rates on large-scale installations that can last 2-3 years at a single site. For electricians who value outdoor lifestyle, access to recreational land, and the character of Montana's small cities, this state offers a compelling trade career environment.

Where to Find Electrician Training in Montana

• IBEW Local 532 (Billings): Primary electrician union and JATC apprenticeship for eastern and central Montana
• IBEW Local 233 (Great Falls / Western MT): Covers western Montana markets including Missoula, Helena, and Kalispell
• ABC Montana Chapter: Non-union merit shop apprenticeship options available in the Montana market
• Montana State University (Bozeman): Electrical engineering and technology programs with connections to Montana's growing commercial sector
• Montana Tech (Butte): Electrical engineering and industrial electrical programs with strong mining and energy industry connections

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do electricians make in Montana? Montana electricians average $54,000 to $64,000 per year statewide. Industrial electricians in oil and gas or mining operations earn $60,000 to $78,000. Master electricians in Bozeman or Missoula running their own businesses in the growing residential and commercial markets frequently earn $80,000 to $100,000 annually given Montana's limited licensed electrician supply relative to demand.

How do I get an electrician license in Montana? Complete a state-approved apprenticeship through IBEW or ABC Montana, log 8,000 on-the-job training hours, and pass the Montana state journeyman electrician exam. After working as a journeyman for the required period, you can sit for the master electrician exam to operate your own contracting business in Montana. The limited supply of licensed electricians in the state means that new journeymen typically find work immediately after passing the exam.

Is Bozeman a good market for electricians? Yes - Bozeman is one of the strongest electrician markets in Montana. The city has been growing at extraordinary rates for the past decade as remote workers and retirees relocate from higher-cost states, driving residential and commercial construction that outpaces the available licensed electrician workforce. Wages in Bozeman are at the top of the Montana range, and the market dynamics strongly favor licensed electricians who can establish themselves in the city before competition catches up to demand.