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Montana · Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic

Montana refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic prevailing wage, county by county

A refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic's prevailing wage on Montana public works is $63.00 an hour in every county that has one (56), for the main classification.

Main refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic classification in each county (Heating and air conditioning), 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.

Garfield County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourLiberty County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourGolden Valley County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourBeaverhead County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourWheatland County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourLewis and Clark County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourRavalli County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourFlathead County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourSanders County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourPetroleum County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourBroadwater County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourMusselshell County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourWibaux County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourRichland County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourRoosevelt County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourPhillips County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourYellowstone County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourMeagher County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourCuster County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourPowder River County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourLincoln County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourGallatin County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourJefferson County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourJudith Basin County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourTeton County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourMineral County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourDeer Lodge County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourSilver Bow County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourMadison County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourFallon County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourCarter County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourHill County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourFergus County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourChouteau County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourMcCone County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourValley County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourTreasure County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourStillwater County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourLake County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourMissoula County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourPowell County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourGlacier County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourRosebud County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourSweet Grass County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourPondera County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourDaniels County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourPark County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourPrairie County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourBig Horn County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourDawson County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourBlaine County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourToole County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourSheridan County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourGranite County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourCarbon County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hourCascade County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $63.00 per hour
$63$63$63$63$63$63Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic, main rate, base + benefit per hour. Each shade holds about a fifth of the counties.

How much does a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic make on prevailing wage in Montana?

4 groups of counties with identical rates and 0 with rates of their own, highest main rate first. The table below lists which counties are in each group.

  1. Yellowstone County group21 counties · HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING$63.00
  2. Gallatin County group14 counties · HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING$63.00
  3. Lewis and Clark County group14 counties · HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING$63.00
  4. Missoula County group7 counties · HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING$63.00

Which counties pay which rate

CountiesMain classificationBase + benefitBase
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, YellowstoneHEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING$63.00 $40.07 
Gallatin County group, 14 localities: Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Gallatin, Golden Valley, Hill, Judith Basin, Meagher, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Sweet Grass, WheatlandHEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING$63.00 $40.07 
Lewis and Clark County group, 14 localities: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Glacier, Granite, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Madison, Pondera, Powell, Silver Bow, Teton, TooleHEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING$63.00 $40.07 
Missoula County group, 7 localities: Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, SandersHEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING$63.00 $40.07 

4 groups 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 refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic pay

What is the refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic prevailing wage in Yellowstone County?

$63.00 an hour: a $40.07 base wage plus $22.93 in benefits, under DLI 2026 rates, revised April 25, 2026. Overtime and every refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic classification in Yellowstone County.

Does refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic prevailing wage include fringe benefits?

Yes. In Yellowstone County the $63.00 total is a $40.07 base wage plus $22.93 in benefits, about 36% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.

Does refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic 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 refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics get this rate?

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.

Why do some counties have the same refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic rate?

DLI often publishes the same refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic rates for several counties. Across Montana, the 56 counties with a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic rate fall into 4 distinct sets of rates, and 4 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 21 counties (the Yellowstone County group).