Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Montana | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $55,610 | $53,934 | +3% |
| Median hourly wage | $26.74 | $25.93 | +3% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $58,784.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Welder in Montana is $55,610, or about $26.74 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Welders is $53,934. Montana is +3% above the national median.
Entry-level welders in Montana typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 1,530 welder jobs on record and a median salary of $55,610, Montana offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, welders rank 328 of the 604 occupations reported in Montana — higher than 46% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Power Plant Operators at $106,040, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers at $98,310, Gas Plant Operators at $83,630 — all figures are median annual wages for Montana.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Montana levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, welders rank 328 of the 604 occupations reported in Montana — higher than 46% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Montana | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Power Plant Operators | $106,040 | $130 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $98,310 | $550 |
| Gas Plant Operators | $83,630 | $70 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $81,340 | $170 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $79,570 | $40 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $77,690 | $110 |
Montana levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 604 occupations in Montana.