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Montana · Painter · 7 counties
Painter prevailing wage, Missoula County group, Montana (7 counties)
DLI sets the same painter rates, row for row, in 7 counties: Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli and Sanders. Every figure on this page applies in each of them.
$48.84an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$36.00 base wage + $12.84 fringe benefits · Highway Construction · Statewide
On Montana public works in each of these 7 counties, 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 each of these counties, 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 the Missoula County group
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead County | PAINTER | $53.72 | MT20260080 Mod 3 | DB +$4.88 |
| Lake County | PAINTER | $53.72 | MT20260080 Mod 3 | DB +$4.88 |
| Lincoln County | PAINTER | $53.72 | MT20260080 Mod 3 | DB +$4.88 |
| Mineral County | PAINTER | $53.72 | MT20260080 Mod 3 | DB +$4.88 |
| Missoula County | PAINTER | $53.72 | MT20260080 Mod 3 | DB +$4.88 |
| Ravalli County | PAINTER | $53.72 | MT20260080 Mod 3 | DB +$4.88 |
| Sanders County | PAINTER | $53.72 | MT20260080 Mod 3 | DB +$4.88 |
How the Missoula County group 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 County groupbase $36.00$48.84
- Lake Countybase $36.00$48.84
- Powell Countybase $36.00$48.84
- Granite Countybase $36.00$48.84
Which county is in which painter group
Every Montana county with a painter 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 | PAINTERS | $36.00 | $48.84 |
| Gallatin County group, 14 localities: Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Gallatin, Golden Valley, Hill, Judith Basin, Meagher, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Sweet Grass, Wheatland | PAINTERS | $36.00 | $48.84 |
| 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 | PAINTERS | $36.00 | $48.84 |
| Missoula County group, 7 localities: Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders | PAINTERS | $36.00 | $48.84 |
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: Flathead · Lake · Lincoln · Mineral · Missoula · Ravalli · Sanders
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:
- Flathead: MTDLI-HWY-2026-04-25, page 12
- Lake: MTDLI-HWY-2026-04-25, page 12
- Lincoln: MTDLI-HWY-2026-04-25, page 12
- Mineral: MTDLI-HWY-2026-04-25, page 12
- Missoula: MTDLI-HWY-2026-04-25, page 12
- Ravalli: MTDLI-HWY-2026-04-25, page 12
- Sanders: MTDLI-HWY-2026-04-25, page 12
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