--- title: "Refinery & Process Operator Salary in Montana: Pay & Jobs" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/montana/ description: "Refinery & Process Operator pay in Montana: BLS average $94,310 (all experience levels), median $98,310, bottom 10% $75,760; 550 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025)." updated: 2026-11-04 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Refinery & Process Operator](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/) 4. Montana Montana # Refinery & Process Operator pay in *Montana* What refinery and process operators earn in Montana: pay for the state and 1 metro area, plus job counts and no listed training programs yet. - **$94,310** Average across all experience levels (state) - **$75,760** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$98,310** Median pay (state) - **$108,160** Top 10% earn over 550 jobs in Montana. Trade Elevator MechanicLineworkerIndustrial Automation TechnicianCrane OperatorOperating EngineerPipefitter & SteamfitterPlumberRefinery & Process OperatorAircraft MechanicElectrical & Electronic Engineering TechnicianIndustrial Electronics TechnicianElectricianHVAC/R TechnicianDiesel MechanicWelderIronworkerMillwrightConstruction InspectorZIP code Pay by percentile ## Refinery & Process Operator pay in Montana Annual wages. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Montana | $75,760 | $78,900 | $98,310 | $103,200 | $108,160 | $94,310 | 550 | | United States | $57,110 | $77,510 | $96,710 | $106,320 | $115,880 | $90,630 | 33,160 | Annual wages by percentile. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Billings, MT | $78,890 | $90,340 | $103,110 | $108,160 | $108,160 | $98,040 | 380 | Metro area estimates, BLS, May 2025. Only areas BLS published are shown. At a glance ## How Montana compares | | | | --- | --- | | Rank by average pay | 12 of 43 states and territories with a BLS estimate | | Average vs U.S. average | +4.1% ($94,310 vs $90,630) | | Median vs U.S. median | +1.7% ($98,310 vs $96,710) | | Median hourly wage | $47.26 | | Bottom 10% to top 10% | $75,760 to $108,160 | | Jobs per 1,000 jobs in the state | 1.07 | | Location quotient | 5.04 (more concentrated than the U.S. average of 1.00) | | Metro areas with a BLS estimate | 1: Billings, MT $103,110 | Computed from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates state and metro files. A location quotient above 1 means the job makes up a larger share of employment in the state than nationally. Training ## Schools and apprenticeships in Montana We found no process operator school program or registered apprenticeship sponsor in Montana in the IPEDS 2023-24 completions file or the DOL partner file. Programs in nearby states may enroll out-of-state students. This site covers pay and careers; the school and apprenticeship directory lives on our sister site. [**See process operator schools and apprenticeship sponsors in Montana** Full directory, entry requirements and how to apply · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/mt/) Veterans can compare [trade schools approved for the GI Bill](https://veterantradeschools.com/) on VeteranTradeSchools.com. By the [HighPayingTrades Data Team](https://highpayingtrades.com/about/) · Updated Nov 4, 2026 ## Sources **Figures as of BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates (released 2026-05-15) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (released 2026-08-27).** - **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](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-04. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [51-8093.00 Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-8093.00), retrieved 2026-11-04 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/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](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **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](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). 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 Data Team; last refreshed 2026-11-04. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/montana/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.