Prevailing wage rates · Montana · Wage determination
Prevailing wage rates: Powell County, Montana
Building construction · MT20260048 modification 2, published May 18, 2026
The short answer
This sheet sets 22 classifications for building work in Powell County, Montana. Each line is a basic hourly rate plus a fringe rate, and the sum is the minimum you must pay for that work, from $19.18 an hour (painter: brush, roller and spray, excludes drywall finishing/taping) to $106.05 (elevator mechanic). Your contract may lock an earlier modification.
What changed this year
First published January 2, 2026, this sheet is now on modification 2, and its rates have changed in 2 modifications. Of the 22 rates we can follow line by line from the first publication to today, 2 are higher.
If you bid the job or set pay from an earlier copy, find your trades below. The rates that bind you are the ones in the modification written into your contract.
Latest change
May 18, 2026 · modification 2
2 fringe formulas changed; 1 classification removed
- Electrician: 1 fringe formula changed
- Elevator mechanic: 1 fringe formula changed
Every line that changed (2)
| Classification | Was | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICIAN | $40.00 + 4%+18.28 | $40.00 + $19.88 | changed |
| ELEVATOR MECHANIC | $67.61 + 38.435+a+b | $67.61 + $38.44 | changed |
Classifications added or removed
- Removed: Low Voltage Wiring for Alarms and Computers
Earlier modifications
January 30, 2026 · modification 12 rates raised
- Pipefitter: 1 rate raised by $4.47 an hour
- Plumber: 1 rate raised by $7.97 an hour
Every line that changed (2)
Classification Was Now Change PIPEFITTER, Excludes HVAC Pipe Installation $39.38 + $16.23 $42.80 + $17.28 +$4.47 (+8.0%) PLUMBER, Includes HVAC Pipe Installation $36.13 + $15.98 $42.80 + $17.28 +$7.97 (+15.3%)
Compared line by line from each modification as published on SAM.gov. A line we could not pair with certainty is left out rather than guessed.
Rates by classification
These are the rates in modification 2 as published on SAM.gov. The determination and modification written into your contract are the ones that bind you; check that number before relying on this table. Total is the basic rate plus the fringe. Source is the agreement or survey the rate came from and its year; a survey year long past means the rate has not been surveyed since. A marker means the group changed in this modification. In the Since column, a dash means SAM.gov reworded the line during the year and it cannot be matched to the first publication with certainty. A dagger (†) means the fringe carries a footnote or percentage the total does not include; read the group’s notes.
| Classification | Basic rate | Fringe | Total | Since Jan 2 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASBE0082-002 · Asbestos Workers and Heat & Frost Insulators agreement, August 1, 2024 | |||||
| HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $43.81 | $21.87 | $65.68 | no change | Agreement, 2024 |
| BOIL0011-002 · Boilermakers agreement, January 1, 2025 | |||||
| BOILERMAKER | $38.75 | $32.31 | $71.06 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| BRMT0001-003 · Bricklayers agreement, June 1, 2023 | |||||
| BRICKLAYER | $33.11 | $17.18 | $50.29 | no change | Agreement, 2023 |
| CARP0082-010 · Carpenters agreement, June 1, 2025 | |||||
CARPENTER: ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION…Full textCARPENTER: ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL FINISHING/TAPING, DRYWALL HANGING AND FORM WORK ONLY ZONE DEFINITION: THE HOURLY RATE APPLICABLE TO EACH PROJECT IS DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE ROAD MILES OVER THE SHORTEST PRACTICAL ROUTE FROM THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE OF THE FOLLOWING TOWNS TO THE CETER OF THE JOB: BILLINGS, BOZEMAN, BUTTE, GREAT FALLS, HELENA, KALISPELL, LEWISTON, MILES CITY, AND MISSOULA ZONE 1: 0 TO 30 MILES - BASE RATE ZONE 2: 31 TO 60 MILES - $4.00 ZONE 3: OVER 60 MILES - $6.00 | $32.05 | $15.02 | $47.07 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| ELEC0233-014 · Electrical Workers (IBEW) agreement, June 1, 2025 | |||||
| ELECTRICIAN | $40.00 | $19.88 | $59.88 | changed | Agreement, 2025 |
| ELEV0019-005 · Elevator Constructors agreement, January 1, 2025 | |||||
| ELEVATOR MECHANIC FOOTNOTE: A. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTES 8% OF THE BASIC HOURLY RATE FOR OVER 5 YEAR'S SERVICE AND 6% OF THE BASIC HOURLY RATE FOR 6 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS' OF SERVICE AS VACATION PAID CREDIT. B. EIGHT PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY; MEMORIAL DAY; INDEPENDENCE DAY; LABOR DAY; VETERAN'S DAY; THANKSGIVING DAY; FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS DAY | $67.61 | $38.44 | $106.05 | changed | Agreement, 2025 |
| IRON0732-013 · Ironworkers agreement, June 1, 2024 | |||||
| IRONWORKER: REINFORCING AND STRUCTURAL | $36.83 | $25.30 | $62.13 | no change | Agreement, 2024 |
| LABO1686-006 · Laborers agreement, May 1, 2021 | |||||
LABORER, ZONE 1: MASON TENDER-BRICK ZONE DEFINITIONS FOR LABORERS THE ZONE HOURLY RATES…Full textLABORER, ZONE 1: MASON TENDER-BRICK ZONE DEFINITIONS FOR LABORERS THE ZONE HOURLY RATES APPLICABLE TO EACH PROJECT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE ROAD MILES OVER THE SHORTEST PRACTICAL MAINTAINED ROUTE FROM THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE OF THE FOLLOWING LISTED TOWN TO THE CENTER OF THE JOB: BILLINGS, BOZEMAN, BUTTE, HELENA, GREAT FALLS, MISSOULA, KALISPELL TRAVEL ZONES: ZONE 1: 0 TO 30 MILES, BASE PAY ZONE 2: 30-60, ADD $3.05 TO BASE PAY ZONE 3: OVER 60 MILES, ADD $4.85 TO BASE PAY | $23.05 | $12.72 | $35.77 | no change | Agreement, 2021 |
| PLUM0459-009 · Plumbers and Pipefitters agreement, May 1, 2025 | |||||
| PLUMBER, INCLUDES HVAC PIPE INSTALLATION | $42.80 | $17.28 | $60.08 | +$7.97 (+15.3%) | Agreement, 2025 |
| PIPEFITTER, EXCLUDES HVAC PIPE INSTALLATION | $42.80 | $17.28 | $60.08 | +$4.47 (+8.0%) | Agreement, 2025 |
| SFMT0669-002 · SFMT, April 1, 2025 | |||||
| SPRINKLER FITTER (FIRE SPRINKLERS) | $39.97 | $24.40 | $64.37 | no change | SFMT |
| SHEE0103-009 · Sheet Metal Workers agreement, June 1, 2025 | |||||
| SHEET METAL WORKER (HVAC DUCT INSTALLATION ONLY) | $40.00 | $22.07 | $62.07 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| SUMT2011-024 · Survey of contractors in MT, January 4, 2011 | |||||
| TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $19.36 | $5.37 | $24.73 | no change | Survey, 2011 |
| ROOFER | $15.48 | $5.28 | $20.76 | no change | Survey, 2011 |
| PAINTER: BRUSH, ROLLER AND SPRAY, EXCLUDES DRYWALL FINISHING/TAPING | $19.18 | $0.00 | $19.18 | no change | Survey, 2011 |
| OPERATOR: FORKLIFT | $21.44 | $8.05 | $29.49 | no change | Survey, 2011 |
| OPERATOR: EXCAVATOR | $22.20 | $6.75 | $28.95 | no change | Survey, 2011 |
| OPERATOR: CRANE | $24.04 | $7.41 | $31.45 | no change | Survey, 2011 |
| LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $17.77 | $5.23 | $23.00 | no change | Survey, 2011 |
| GLAZIER | $17.93 | $2.62 | $20.55 | no change | Survey, 2011 |
| CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $18.27 | $1.50 | $19.77 | no change | Survey, 2011 |
CARPENTER, EXCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION…Full textCARPENTER, EXCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL FINISHING/TAPING, DRYWALL HANGING, AND FORMWORK | $20.51 | $7.13 | $27.64 | no change | Survey, 2011 |
Modification history
| Modification 1 | January 30, 2026 |
| Modification 2 | May 18, 2026 (current) |
Published by the Wage and Hour Division; read from sam.gov. The sheet is checked for a newer modification each day. Contracts awarded since January 1, 2017 also carry Executive Order 13706 paid sick leave (one hour per 30 worked, up to 56 a year).
Questions people ask
- Which rate do I pay on MT20260048?
- The line for the classification of work actually performed: the basic rate plus the fringe. You may pay the fringe into benefit plans, as cash on every hour, or a mix. Overtime after 40 hours is 1.5 times the basic rate; fringe is paid on every hour and never multiplied.
- My trade is not on this sheet. What do I do?
- Do not borrow the nearest name. Ask the contracting agency for a conformance on Standard Form 1444 before the first week of that work, and note it as pending on the payroll.
- Does modification 2 apply to my contract?
- Only if it was in force when your contract was awarded (generally at bid opening). An earlier modification locked into the contract keeps applying, except on option years, added scope and indefinite-quantity contracts. The number and modification are on the first page of the exhibit in your contract.
How to read a wage determination · Paying the fringe in cash or through plans · Overtime on these rates · Fringe credit calculator
Put these rates on a certified payroll.
Start here and MT20260048 is already filled in when you set up the job. CertifiedHours loads this sheet, checks every line against it as you type hours, and prints the WH-347. Free for one payroll a month.
Start a payroll on this sheetOn this sheet
- 22 classifications in 12 rate groups
- 10 from agreements, 1 from surveys
- Counties: Powell