HVAC/R Technician pay in Montana
What HVAC and refrigeration technicians earn in Montana: BLS OEWS May 2025 pay for the state and 5 metro areas, plus job counts and 115 listed training programs.
- $62,260Average pay (state)
- $41,900Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $60,850Median pay (state)
- $81,230Top 10% earn over
1,230 jobs in Montana · 115 listed programs. Average pay across all experience levels (BLS OEWS May 2025).
BLS wage data
HVAC/R Technician pay in Montana
Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.
| Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $41,900 | $48,150 | $60,850 | $75,790 | $81,230 | $62,260 | 1,230 |
| United States | $40,050 | $48,360 | $61,010 | $77,060 | $95,210 | $64,780 | 409,670 |
Metro areas
| Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $49,920 | $58,630 | $72,970 | $81,580 | $89,510 | $71,160 | 210 |
| Helena, MT | $45,970 | $49,890 | $62,670 | $75,280 | $79,090 | $62,290 | 100 |
| Billings, MT | $41,890 | $47,000 | $62,240 | $77,370 | $78,800 | $61,870 | 300 |
| Great Falls, MT | $41,600 | $46,820 | $60,670 | $74,570 | $81,230 | $61,430 | 150 |
| Missoula, MT | $44,500 | $48,260 | $60,240 | $73,060 | $75,860 | $60,990 | 180 |
Find training
Looking for a school or apprenticeship?
This page covers pay and job outlook. Our sister site RegisteredTradeSchools.com keeps the training directory for HVAC and refrigeration technicians: registered apprenticeship sponsors, how to apply, and school routes.
Programs
Top training programs in Montana
We matched 115 programs in Montana: 4 school programs (IPEDS 2023-24) and 111 registered apprenticeship sponsors (DOL). The 10 below are schools with published tuition first; the full directory is on RegisteredTradeSchools.com (links above).
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Valley Community College Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Kalispell, MT | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 6 | $5,024–$11,973 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 |
| Montana State University Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Bozeman, MT | Certificate (1-2 years) | 2 | $8,948–$33,783 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 |
| Montana State University Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Bozeman, MT | Associate degree | 7 | $8,948–$33,783 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 |
| The University of Montana Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Missoula, MT | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $9,188–$34,312 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 |
| Hvacr Education.net | Heron, MT | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| HVACR Eduction.net | Heron, MT | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| HVACRedu.net | Heron, MT | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| 1 Plumbing and Heating | Belgrade, MT | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| 2nd Nature Plumbing & Heating LLC | Belgrade, MT | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| 3 Brothers Plumbing & Heating Inc | Montana City, MT | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
Sources
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (news release USDL-26-0725; data tables). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03.
- Occupation: O*NET OnLine, 49-9021.00 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0).
- Apprenticeship sponsors: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 (Partner Finder).
- Schools & graduates: U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code (completions file; CIP-SOC crosswalk).
- Tuition: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID (source).
Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03.