Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Montana

Wages, programs & career outlook

Automotive mechanics diagnose and repair cars, SUVs, and light trucks — engines, brakes, transmissions, electrical systems, and the computer controls that tie it all together. Work happens in dealership service bays, independent repair shops, or fleet maintenance garages.

MT Median Salary
$57,060/yr
+15% vs. national
National Median
$49,670/yr
MT Employment
2,720
Automotive Mechanics employed
MT Sponsors
6
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
4.2%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
70,000
Nationally, per yr

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Montana: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered automotive mechanic apprenticeship in Montana combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Montana pay vs. national

Median automotive mechanic wages in Montana are $57,060/year, +15% above the national median of $49,670. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Montana has 6 registered apprenticeship sponsors for automotive mechanic listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.2% job growth for automotive mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 70,000 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Montana-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Montana Wage Spread

Annual wages for Automotive Mechanics in Montana across all experience levels.

10th pct
$37,030
Median
$57,060
90th pct
$75,530
Middle 50% of workers earn $44,480$64,950

Current Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Montana

No automotive mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Montana. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in Montana

6 automotive mechanic-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Montana. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current automotive mechanic apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
YATES BODY SHOP Butte Silver Bow County
The Pit Stop Quick Lube, Inc. Eureka Lincoln County
COLLISION PRO INC Helena Lewis And Clark County
Capital Collision Center Helena Lewis And Clark County
Ohs' Body Shop Kalipell Flathead County
Berg Garage Inc. White Sulphur Springs Meagher County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Automotive Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 49-3023 and state MT for the most relevant results.

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Montana

The 6 Automotive Mechanic-related registered sponsors in Montana mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Automotive Mechanics earn in Montana?
The median annual wage for Automotive Mechanics in Montana is $57,060 as of May 2024. Wages range from $37,030 at the 10th percentile to $75,530 at the 90th percentile.
How long is an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship?
Most Automotive Mechanic apprenticeships run 4 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
What's the difference between an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship and trade school?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Automotive Mechanics, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
Where can I apply for an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship in Montana?
Our directory surfaces 6 Automotive Mechanic-related registered sponsors in Montana. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Automotive Mechanic apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Montana, a first-year Automotive Mechanic apprentice might earn around $28,530/yr (roughly half the $57,060 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Automotive Mechanics also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 337 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs nationwide →
Too few Montana-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Automotive Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Montana

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.