Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in Montana

Wages, programs & career outlook

Industrial machinery mechanics (millwrights and maintenance mechanics) keep factory equipment running — production lines, conveyors, pumps, robotic cells, and packaging machines. It's heavy diagnostic work with downtime pressure: a stopped line costs money every minute.

MT Median Salary
$69,880/yr
+10% vs. national
National Median
$63,760/yr
MT Employment
890
Industrial Machinery Mechanics employed
MT Sponsors
1
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
16.1%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
45,700
Nationally, per yr

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in Montana: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered industrial machinery 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 industrial machinery mechanic wages in Montana are $69,880/year, +10% above the national median of $63,760. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Montana has 1 registered apprenticeship sponsor for industrial machinery 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 16.1% job growth for industrial machinery mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 45,700 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 Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Montana across all experience levels.

10th pct
$47,100
Median
$69,880
90th pct
$103,230
Middle 50% of workers earn $57,770$88,000

Current Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Montana

No industrial machinery 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.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in Montana

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

Organization City County
Talen Energy - Colstrip Power Plant JATC Colstrip Rosebud County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Industrial Machinery Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 49-9041 and state MT for the most relevant results.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in Montana

The 1 Industrial Machinery Mechanic-related registered sponsor 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 is the average Industrial Machinery Mechanic salary in Montana?
The median annual wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Montana is $69,880 as of May 2024. Wages range from $47,100 at the 10th percentile to $103,230 at the 90th percentile.
How many years does it take to become an Industrial Machinery Mechanic through apprenticeship?
The standard Industrial Machinery 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 an Industrial Machinery 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 an Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship in Montana?
Our directory surfaces 1 Industrial Machinery Mechanic-related registered sponsor 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 Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $34,940/yr in Montana). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

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

Compare 66 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs nationwide →
Too few Montana-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Montana

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