Montana
Welder pay in Montana
What welders earn in Montana: BLS OEWS May 2025 pay for the state and 4 metro areas, plus job counts and 21 listed training programs.
- $58,680Average pay (state)
- $43,720Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $55,610Median pay (state)
- $81,470Top 10% earn over
1,530 jobs in Montana · 21 listed programs. Average pay across all experience levels (BLS OEWS May 2025).
BLS wage data
Welder 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 | $43,720 | $47,590 | $55,610 | $63,520 | $81,470 | $58,680 | 1,530 |
| United States | $39,240 | $46,790 | $53,750 | $63,010 | $77,530 | $56,760 | 416,210 |
Metro areas
| Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $46,110 | $50,740 | $59,140 | $63,520 | $74,340 | $59,220 | 170 |
| Great Falls, MT | $47,540 | $50,510 | $55,720 | $63,880 | $99,570 | $60,880 | 120 |
| Billings, MT | $46,000 | $47,280 | $52,670 | $62,920 | $81,700 | $58,240 | 430 |
| Missoula, MT | $39,210 | $46,900 | $47,720 | $56,790 | $69,770 | $52,230 | 160 |
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 welders: registered apprenticeship sponsors, how to apply, and school routes.
Programs
Top training programs in Montana
We matched 21 programs in Montana: 20 school programs (IPEDS 2023-24) and 1 registered apprenticeship sponsor (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaniiih Nakoda College Welding Technology/Welder | Harlem, MT | Certificate (1-2 years) | 7 | $3,080 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Dawson Community College Welding Technology/Welder | Glendive, MT | Certificate (1-2 years) | 1 | $5,235–$10,120 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Dawson Community College Welding Technology/Welder | Glendive, MT | Associate degree | 7 | $5,235–$10,120 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Flathead Valley Community College Welding Technology/Welder | Kalispell, MT | Certificate (1-2 years) | 19 | $5,024–$11,973 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Flathead Valley Community College Welding Technology/Welder | Kalispell, MT | Associate degree | 7 | $5,024–$11,973 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Flathead Valley Community College Welding Technology/Welder | Kalispell, MT | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 5 | $5,024–$11,973 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Fort Peck Community College Welding Technology/Welder | Poplar, MT | Certificate (1-2 years) | 1 | $2,250 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Great Falls College Montana State University Welding Technology/Welder | Great Falls, MT | Certificate (1-2 years) | 19 | $4,144–$13,026 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Great Falls College Montana State University Welding Technology/Welder | Great Falls, MT | Associate degree | 14 | $4,144–$13,026 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
| Great Falls College Montana State University Welding Technology/Welder | Great Falls, MT | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 37 | $4,144–$13,026 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 48.0508 |
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, 51-4121.00 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, 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.