Carpenters Salary
Carpenters in Montana make a median of $58,820 a year, or about $28.28 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $60,639 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 29.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Montana?
About carpenters
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What this looks like in Montana
Carpenters pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $61K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level carpenters (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Carpenters salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $62K | +6% | 900 |
| Billings | $59K | +0% | 530 |
| Great Falls | $59K | -0% | 370 |
| Helena | $58K | -1% | 310 |
| Missoula | $57K | -3% | 400 |
Compare to other states
Track carpenters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 28.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for carpenters in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new carpenters typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,581/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is carpenter a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $61K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for carpenters?
Montana pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do carpenters make in Montana?
The median is $58,820 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,010, and experienced carpenters can clear $77,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,911/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 28.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a carpenters salary go in Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median carpenters salary is worth about $60,639 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do carpenters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.