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Missoula County, MT · Painter
Painter prevailing wage in Missoula County, Montana
$48.84an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$36.00 base wage + $12.84 fringe benefits · Highway Construction · Statewide
Missoula County uses the same painter rates as 6 other counties. See all of them on one page.
On Montana public works in Missoula County, a painter must be paid at least $48.84 an hour: a $36.00 base wage plus $12.84 in benefits. DLI prints no total, so $48.84 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 painter rates for Missoula County, from $27.84 to $48.84 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $36.00 + $12.84
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) | $36.00 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $12.84 |
| Base + benefits (our sum; DLI prints no total) | $48.84 |
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 painter rate in Missoula County
As DLI lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAINTERS: INCLUDING PAPERHANGERSBuilding ConstructionDistrict 1 (Kalispell and Missoula) | $23.10 | $4.74 | $27.84 | Apr 25, 2026 |
| PAINTERSHeavy ConstructionStatewide DLI prints 'No Rate Established' for the benefit, so no total is given; pay at least the base. | $25.00 | $-25.00 | — | Apr 25, 2026 |
| PAINTERSHighway ConstructionStatewide | $36.00 | $12.84 | $48.84 | Apr 25, 2026 |
Davis-Bacon painter rate in Missoula County
Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's wage determinations. Montana's law doesn't apply where federal law sets the rate, so a Davis-Bacon job uses the federal schedule (DLI FAQ).
For highway work, the matching Davis-Bacon classification is PAINTER at $53.72 ($39.60 base + $14.12 fringe), from MT20260080 modification 3, published June 4, 2026, rate SAMT2026-001. Against DLI's $48.84: The Davis-Bacon rate is $4.88 an hour higher.
For heavy work, the matching Davis-Bacon classification is PAINTER: BRUSH AND SPRAY at $25.00 ($25.00 base + $0.00 fringe), from MT20260067 modification 2, published May 18, 2026, rate SUMT2011-043. Against DLI's $48.84: DLI's rate is $23.84 an hour higher.
| Construction | Federal classification | Base wage | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building | PAINTER: BRUSH AND SPRAYPAIN0260-003 | $18.35 | $25.19 | MT20260063 Mod 2 |
| Building | PAINTER: ROLLERSUMT2011-039 | $17.00 | $17.00 | MT20260063 Mod 2 |
| Highway | PAINTERSAMT2026-001 | $39.60 | $53.72 | MT20260080 Mod 3 |
| Heavy | PAINTER: BRUSH AND SPRAYSUMT2011-043 | $25.00 | $25.00 | MT20260067 Mod 2 |
| Residential | PAINTERSUMT1992-009 | $10.93 | $12.31 | MT20260005 Mod 1 |
Davis-Bacon rates from SAM.gov, read October 25, 2026. Our federal totals are base plus fringe; DOL prints no total. Montana Davis-Bacon changes
How Missoula County compares
The main painter 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
- Missoula Countybase $36.00$48.84
- Lake Countybase $36.00$48.84
- Powell Countybase $36.00$48.84
- Granite Countybase $36.00$48.84
Painter rates in nearby counties
Current DLI rates. Building rates apply "to the district in which the work is being performed"; heavy and highway rates are statewide (MCA 18-2-403).
DLI's painter rates for Missoula County are the same as in 6 other counties: Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Ravalli, Sanders.
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Missoula County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula County | PAINTERS | $36.00 | $48.84 | |
| Lake County | PAINTERS | $36.00 | $48.84 | same |
| Powell County | PAINTERS | $36.00 | $48.84 | same |
| Granite County | PAINTERS | $36.00 | $48.84 | same |
| Mineral County | PAINTERS | $36.00 | $48.84 | same |
| Ravalli County | PAINTERS | $36.00 | $48.84 | same |
| Sanders County | PAINTERS | $36.00 | $48.84 | same |
More from DLI on this rate
- DLI DLI 2026 schedule, page 12
- 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).
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 schedule MTDLI-HWY-2026-04-25, effective April 25, 2026, page 12: erd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/labor-standards/Prevailing-Wage/2026-Highway-Construction.pdf
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 Missoula County as CSV · Report an error