--- title: "Welder Salary in Montana: Pay & Jobs" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/welder/montana/ description: "Welder pay in Montana: BLS average $58,680 (all experience levels), median $55,610, bottom 10% $43,720. 21 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Welder](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/welder/) 4. Montana 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. - **$58,680** Average pay (state) - **$43,720** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$55,610** Median pay (state) - **$81,470** Top 10% earn over 1,530 jobs in Montana · 21 listed programs. [Average pay across all experience levels (BLS OEWS May 2025)](https://highpayingtrades.com/methodology/). 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 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### 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 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. 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. [**Welding apprenticeships and training** Apprenticeship sponsors and school routes by state · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/trades/welding/) 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](https://www.ancollege.edu/) 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](https://www.dawson.edu/) 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](https://www.dawson.edu/) 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](https://www.fvcc.edu/) 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](https://www.fvcc.edu/) 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](https://www.fvcc.edu/) 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](https://www.fpcc.edu/) 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](https://www.gfcmsu.edu/) 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](https://www.gfcmsu.edu/) 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](https://www.gfcmsu.edu/) 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 | Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program. Related resources ## Keep researching [**Welding career path for veterans** Military experience and certification routes. · MilitaryToTrades.com](https://militarytotrades.com/careers/welder/) [**GI Bill-approved welding programs** Schools that accept VA education benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/welding/) ## 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](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 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [51-4121.00 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4121.00), 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](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 team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/welder/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.