Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Montana

Wages, programs & career outlook

Construction painters prep and coat surfaces on new builds and remodels — drywall, trim, siding, steel, and everything in between. The job combines surface prep, color mixing, and application technique (brush, roller, sprayer) for a durable, uniform finish.

MT Median Salary
$48,920/yr
+1% vs. national
National Median
$48,660/yr
MT Employment
980
Construction Painters employed
MT Sponsors
1
Registered programs
Training Term
3.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
3.8%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
28,100
Nationally, per yr

Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Montana: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered construction painter apprenticeship in Montana combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 3.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Montana pay vs. national

Median construction painter wages in Montana are $48,920/year, +1% above the national median of $48,660. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Montana has 1 registered apprenticeship sponsor for construction painter 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 3.8% job growth for construction painters nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 28,100 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 Construction Painters in Montana across all experience levels.

10th pct
$34,560
Median
$48,920
90th pct
$65,650
Middle 50% of workers earn $45,570$59,610

Current Construction Painter Apprenticeship Openings in Montana

No construction painter 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.

Construction Painter Apprenticeship Sponsors in Montana

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

Organization City County
Finishing Trades of the Upper Midwest Billings Yellowstone County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Construction Painter openings

Filter by occupation code 47-2141 and state MT for the most relevant results.

Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Montana

Montana has only 1 Construction Painter-adjacent registered sponsors in our directory — program slots may be competitive and early applications give the best shot at placement. Direct outreach to union halls in the state's largest cities often matters more than formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Construction Painters earn in Montana?
The median annual wage for Construction Painters in Montana is $48,920 as of May 2024. Wages range from $34,560 at the 10th percentile to $65,650 at the 90th percentile.
What is the length of a Construction Painter apprenticeship program?
Most Construction Painter apprenticeships run 3 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
What's the difference between a Construction Painter apprenticeship and trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Construction Painters combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
How do I find a Construction Painter apprenticeship in Montana?
Contact one of the 1 Construction Painter-adjacent registered sponsor in Montana (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Construction Painter apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Montana, a first-year Construction Painter apprentice might earn around $24,460/yr (roughly half the $48,920 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 3-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

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

Compare 43 Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection programs nationwide →
Too few Montana-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Construction Painter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Montana

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