Home / Montana / Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) / Yellowstone County group
Montana · Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) · 21 counties
Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) prevailing wage, Yellowstone County group, Montana (21 counties)
DLI sets the same insulator rates, row for row, in 21 counties: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Treasure, Valley, Wibaux and Yellowstone. Every figure on this page applies in each of them.
$66.75an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$43.81 base wage + $22.94 fringe benefits · Building Construction · District 4 (Billings, Miles City and Sidney)
On Montana public works in each of these 21 counties, an insulator must be paid at least $66.75 an hour: a $43.81 base wage plus $22.94 in benefits. DLI prints no total, so $66.75 is our sum of the two.
DLI 2026 rates, revised April 25, 2026; this rate, effective April 25, 2026. "The wage rates applicable to a particular public works project are those in effect at the time the bid specifications are advertised" (ARM 24.17.127). Checked against erd.dli.mt.gov on October 25, 2026.
DLI lists 2 insulator rates for each of these counties, from $66.75 to $68.45 an hour. See all of them.
- DLI allowances (verbatim): Travel Pay:; 0-30 mi. free; 31-40 mi. $30 per day; >40-50 mi. $40/day; >50-60 mi. $55/day; >60 mi. $65/day, plus: $0.66 for each mile over; 60, up to $400 unless:; •Employee traveling in employee’s vehicle on; employer’s time, then rate changes to $0.20 per; mi., only for miles over 60.; •Employee traveling in company-provided vehicle; with company-paid fuel, no additional travel pay; mileage required.; Zone Pay:; 0-30 mi. free; 31-40 mi. $3.75/hr.; >40-50 mi. $5.00/hr.; >50-60 mi. $6.88/hr.; >60 mi. $8.13/hr. only if employee is; commuting, if employee is staying over, Per Diem; applies instead.; Per Diem:; 60+ mi. $130/day; or, employer pays for lodging; +$35/day for meals.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $43.81 + $22.94
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DLI prints the benefits as one hourly figure, not itemized; it can go to health, pension, vacation and training plans, or be paid as cash where the state allows.
| Base wage (taxable) | $43.81 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $22.94 |
| Base + benefits (our sum; DLI prints no total) | $66.75 |
When does this rate change?
- Montana rates lock when the bid specifications are advertised, so a later revision doesn't change an advertised project (ARM 24.17.127; section E of each 2026 schedule). Contracts of more than 30 months add 3% a year (MCA 18-2-417).
- DLI sets rates once a year and revises them mid-year when needed. The 2026 rates were revised effective April 25, 2026; the 2027 drafts are out for comment until November 15, 2026 (DLI rates page).
Every insulator rate in the Yellowstone County group
As DLI lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INSULATION WORKERS - MECHANICAL (HEAT AND FROST)Building ConstructionDistrict 4 (Billings, Miles City and Sidney) | $43.81 | $22.94 | $66.75 | Apr 25, 2026 |
| INSULATION WORKERS - MECHANICAL (HEAT AND FROST)Heavy ConstructionStatewide | $45.51 | $22.94 | $68.45 | Apr 25, 2026 |
Davis-Bacon insulator rates in these counties
The counties share DLI's rates, but not always the same federal wage determination. Montana's law doesn't apply where federal law sets the rate, so a Davis-Bacon job uses the federal schedule (DLI FAQ).
| County | Federal classification | Base + fringe | WD | vs DLI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Horn County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260056 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Carbon County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260061 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Carter County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260057 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Custer County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260057 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Daniels County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260028 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Dawson County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260029 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Fallon County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260057 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Garfield County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260057 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| McCone County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260043 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Musselshell County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260058 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Powder River County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260057 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Prairie County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260056 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Richland County | ASBESTOS WORKER/HEAT & FROST INSULATOR | $25.09 | MT20260049 Mod 1 | DLI +$41.66 |
| Roosevelt County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260050 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Rosebud County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260057 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Sheridan County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260051 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Stillwater County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260053 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Treasure County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260054 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Valley County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260057 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Wibaux County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260055 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
| Yellowstone County | HEAT AND FROST INSULATOR | $65.68 | MT20260064 Mod 1 | DLI +$1.07 |
How the Yellowstone County group compares
The main insulator rate in every county that has one, and how the pay splits here and nearby. All bars use the same scale.
Every county in Montana
Wage and benefits, nearby
- Yellowstone County groupbase $43.81$66.75
- Musselshell Countybase $43.81$66.75
- Big Horn Countybase $43.81$66.75
- Treasure Countybase $43.81$66.75
Which county is in which insulator group
Every Montana county with a insulator rate. Counties DLI treats alike share one page; the rest have their own.
| Counties | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone County group, 21 localities: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Treasure, Valley, Wibaux, Yellowstone | INSULATION WORKERS - MECHANICAL (HEAT AND FROST) | $43.81 | $66.75 |
| Gallatin County group, 14 localities: Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Gallatin, Golden Valley, Hill, Judith Basin, Meagher, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Sweet Grass, Wheatland | INSULATION WORKERS - MECHANICAL (HEAT AND FROST) | $43.81 | $66.75 |
| Lewis and Clark County group, 14 localities: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Glacier, Granite, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Madison, Pondera, Powell, Silver Bow, Teton, Toole | INSULATION WORKERS - MECHANICAL (HEAT AND FROST) | $43.81 | $66.75 |
| Missoula County group, 7 localities: Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders | INSULATION WORKERS - MECHANICAL (HEAT AND FROST) | $43.81 | $66.75 |
4 groups of counties with identical DLI rates, and 0 counties with rates of their own.
More from DLI on this rate
- DLI's state prevailing wage rates
- DLI lists journey-level rates. Registered apprentices get their program's percentage of the rate plus the full benefit (MCA 18-2-416).
Every trade's rates, county by county: Big Horn · Carbon · Carter · Custer · Daniels · Dawson · Fallon · Garfield · McCone · Musselshell · Powder River · Prairie · Richland · Roosevelt · Rosebud · Sheridan · Stillwater · Treasure · Valley · Wibaux · Yellowstone
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your base wage to what your employer pays into benefit plans for you (or in cash), and compare it with the total. Contractors post the wages and benefits on site from day one and keep payroll records 3 years (MCA 18-2-422). DLI: (406) 444-6543.
Source
Department of Labor & Industry (DLI), DLI 2026 rates, revised April 25, 2026. For the row this page leads with:
- Big Horn: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Carbon: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Carter: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Custer: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Daniels: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Dawson: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Fallon: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Garfield: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- McCone: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Musselshell: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Powder River: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Prairie: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Richland: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Roosevelt: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Rosebud: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Sheridan: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Stillwater: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Treasure: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Valley: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Wibaux: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
- Yellowstone: MTDLI-BLD-2026-04-25, page 14
We read every row of DLI's 2026 Building, Heavy and Highway PDFs and check every number with a second, separate reader. DLI prints no total; ours is base plus benefit. How we check · Download every Montana rate as CSV · Report an error