Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Montana

Wages, programs & career outlook

Diesel mechanics service the engines that power commercial trucks, buses, construction equipment, and farm machinery. The work ranges from routine fleet maintenance to diagnosing electronic engine faults on rigs that can't sit idle long.

MT Median Salary
$57,060/yr
-6% vs. national
National Median
$60,640/yr
MT Employment
1,110
Diesel Mechanics employed
MT Sponsors
2
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
2.4%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
26,500
Nationally, per yr

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Montana: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered diesel 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 diesel mechanic wages in Montana are $57,060/year, -6% below the national median of $60,640. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Montana has 2 registered apprenticeship sponsors for diesel 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 2.4% job growth for diesel mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 26,500 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 Diesel Mechanics in Montana across all experience levels.

10th pct
$23,380
Median
$57,060
90th pct
$76,590
Middle 50% of workers earn $47,390$67,050

Current Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Montana

No diesel 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.

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in Montana

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

Organization City County
G & J Diesel Billings Yellowstone County
EMC Truck Repair and Towing Miles City Custer County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Diesel Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 49-3031 and state MT for the most relevant results.

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Montana

With 2 trade-specific sponsors in our directory, Montana's Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Diesel Mechanics earn in Montana?
Diesel Mechanics in Montana earn a median salary of $57,060/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $60,640 for the trade.
How long is a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship?
The standard Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship is 4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
Should I do a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship or go to trade school?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
Where can I apply for a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship in Montana?
Our directory surfaces 2 Diesel 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.
Do Diesel Mechanic apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Montana, a first-year Diesel 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. Diesel 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.

Diesel Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Montana

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