Montana utility lineman prevailing wage, county by county

A utility lineman's prevailing wage on Montana public works is $47.60 an hour in every county that has one (56), for the main classification.

Main utility lineman classification in each county (Line construction - groundman), DLI 2026 rates, revised 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 October 25, 2026.

$47$47$47$47$47$47Electrical Utility Lineman, main rate, base + benefit per hour. Each shade holds about a fifth of the counties.

Which counties pay which rate

Counties	Main classification	Base + benefit	Base
Yellowstone County group, 56 localities: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone	LINE CONSTRUCTION - GROUNDMAN	$47.60	$29.96

1 group of counties with identical DLI rates, and 0 counties with rates of their own.

DLI publishes journey-level rates only. Registered apprentices are paid the percentage of this rate set in their apprenticeship program, plus the full fringe benefit (18-2-416(2) MCA); unregistered apprentices get the journey-level rate.

Questions about Montana utility lineman pay

What is the utility lineman prevailing wage in Yellowstone County?

$47.60 an hour: a $29.96 base wage plus $17.64 in benefits, under DLI 2026 rates, revised April 25, 2026. Overtime and every utility lineman classification in Yellowstone County.

Does utility lineman prevailing wage include fringe benefits?

Yes. In Yellowstone County the $47.60 total is a $29.96 base wage plus $17.64 in benefits, about 37% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.

Does utility lineman prevailing wage pay overtime in Montana?

Hours over 40 in a week pay at least 1½ times the basic hourly rate. Overtime is calculated on the base rate, not the benefit, and benefits are paid for every hour at the straight-time amount (DLI FAQ). There is no daily overtime.

Do apprentice utility linemans get this rate?

Why do some counties have the same utility lineman rate?

DLI often publishes the same utility lineman rates for several counties. Across Montana, the 56 counties with a utility lineman rate fall into 1 distinct sets of rates, and 1 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 56 counties (the Yellowstone County group).