Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
The median pay for a plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Montana is $79,960/year ($38.44/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $82,433 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 21.5% 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 $80K get you in Montana?
About plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Montana offers a genuinely strong financial position for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitterss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in Montana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $82K | +2% | 360 |
| Bozeman | $81K | +2% | 350 |
| Missoula | $80K | -0% | 290 |
| Great Falls | $77K | -4% | 240 |
Compare to other states
Track plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 22.2% 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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,895/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $80K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
Montana pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in Montana?
The median is $79,960 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,250, and experienced plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $100,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,086/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 22.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters 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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary is worth about $82,433 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters 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.