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Montana Tech Lineman (Butte, MT)
Butte, MT · Power Lineworker (Pre-Apprenticeship)
Year 1 wage
$20–$26/hr
Journeyman
$38–$56/hr
Verified May 18, 20261 yr · 0 OJT hrs · No app fee
Apprenticeships
Montana.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
2,302
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
1
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Montana · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 2,302 total
Electrician
1,119 apprentices$20.14/hr avg start
Plumber
684 apprentices$21.62/hr avg start
Carpenter
171 apprentices$22.95/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
91 apprentices$21.40/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
86 apprentices$21.70/hr avg start
Ironworker
34 apprentices$25.34/hr avg start
Laborer
31 apprentices$21.63/hr avg start
Other Construction
30 apprentices$31.06/hr avg start
+6 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$20.14/hr
avg starting wage
Plumber
$21.62/hr
avg starting wage
Carpenter
$22.95/hr
avg starting wage
Sheet Metal Worker
$21.40/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Montana · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$37.9/hr
~$79K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$38.44/hr
~$80K/yr
HVAC Techs
$30.65/hr
~$64K/yr
Line Installers
$52.02/hr
~$108K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 5 metro areas in Montana. Apprentices start at ~40–50% and graduate to full journeyman scale.
Verified Programs
Manually confirmed by PlumbSquare — application status current as of research date
1 manually verified. Montana has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Montana with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Montana Electrical JATC Union/Labor | Helena | Electrician | 192 | UNION |
Montana State Sheet Metal JATC Union/Labor | Butte | Sheet Metal Worker | 80 | UNION |
Williams Plumbing, Heating & Utilities Inc. Employer | Bozeman | HVAC TechnicianPipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber+1 | 77 | non-union |
Southwest Mountain States Carpenters Training Fund Union/Labor | Ontario | Carpenter | 69 | UNION |
Dick Anderson Construction Employer | Helena | Carpenter | 45 | non-union |
Montana Ironworkers JATC Union/Labor | East Helena | Ironworker | 44 | UNION |
Billings Pipe Trades JATC Union/Labor | Billings | HVAC TechnicianPlumberPipefitter/Steamfitter | 43 | UNION |
Plumbers & Pipefitters #41 JATC Union/Labor | Butte | HVAC TechnicianPlumber | 39 | UNION |
Rocky Mountain Electric Inc. | Bozeman | Electrician | 34 | non-union |
Encore Electric Employer | Lakewood | Electrician | 34 | non-union |
DJ's Electric Inc. Employer | Hamilton | Electrician | 33 | non-union |
Northwestern Energy JATC Union/Labor | Butte | Electrician | 31 | UNION |
Campbell's Plumbing & Heating, Inc. Employer | Belgrade | ElectricianPlumberHVAC Technician | 28 | non-union |
RDJ Brothers, Inc. Employer | Bigfork | CarpenterPainter/Finisher | 23 | non-union |
LIBERTY ELECTRIC, INC. | Missoula | ElectricianPlumber | 23 | non-union |
JACOBSON ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING INC Employer | Missoula | Electrician | 22 | non-union |
Talen Energy - Colstrip Power Plant JATC Union/Labor | Colstrip | Other Construction | 21 | UNION |
Montana Operating Engineers AGCJATT Local 400 Union/Labor | East Helena | Operating Engineer | 21 | UNION |
Star Electric of Montana, Inc. Employer | Kalispell | Electrician | 21 | non-union |
TJ Electric Inc. Employer | Belgrade | Electrician | 21 | non-union |
Central Electric, Inc. / Billings Electric / Townsend Electric Employer | Lewistown (HQ), Billings, Townsend | Electrician | 21 | non-union |
Martel Construction Inc. Employer | Bozeman | Carpenter | 20 | non-union |
Manhattan Plumbing & Heating Employer | Manhattan | Plumber | 20 | non-union |
Central Plumbing & Heating Inc. Employer | Great Falls | Sheet Metal WorkerPlumber | 18 | non-union |
Missoula Plumbers JATC Union/Labor | Missoula | Plumber | 17 | UNION |
Green Power Systems Employer | Billings | Electrician | 16 | non-union |
Total Electric of Montana LLC Employer | Livingston | Electrician | 16 | non-union |
Precision Plumbing & Heating, Inc. Employer | Billings | Plumber | 16 | non-union |
Sacry Electric Inc. Employer | Bozeman | Electrician | 16 | non-union |
Tounsley Electric, Inc. Employer | Billings | Electrician | 14 | non-union |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Montana may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Montana?
Apply to a JATC or non-union program. Requirements: high school diploma or GED, basic math test, proof of age (18+). Some programs add physical requirements or drug testing. Application windows open and close seasonally — check program status before applying.
Are apprenticeships in Montana free?
Yes. Every DOL-registered apprenticeship is free to attend. Apprentices are employees, not students — you earn a wage from day one. No tuition, no student loans.
Union vs. non-union — which should I choose?
Union JATCs (IBEW, UA, SMART, UBC) typically offer higher wages, defined pension plans, and health insurance. Non-union programs (ABC, IEC) may have faster acceptance and work with open-shop contractors. Both paths are DOL-registered. Apply to both — take whoever accepts you first.
How long is a trade apprenticeship?
Most trades are 4–5 years (8,000–10,000 OJT hours). HVAC programs run 3–4 years. Lineman training is typically 3–4 years with specialized fieldwork. Every year your wage increases — you're earning near journeyman scale by your final year.
Montana Licensing
Montana is an SAA state and is not right-to-work. The Dept. of Labor and Industry's Business Standards Division administers licensing for electricians through the Montana State Electrical Board, and for plumbers through the Montana Board of Plumbers. HVAC contractors are licensed through the same department, although no separate state HVAC examination is required.