FairangePainting · MT
Painting costs in Great Falls, MT
Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only
How this market compares
Skip the generic national blog post — this page is the Great Falls Painting slice of OEWS May 2025.
On the national Painting wage ladder (487 areas), Great Falls, MT sits at #124 with a $26.42 mean. Inside MT, that is rank 3 of 7 published areas. Percentile spread: $18.13–$31.60. Median sits at $28.01.
Local employment for this SOC is roughly 70 workers (OEWS May 2025). Nationwide that occupation is about 225,190. How a few common projects pencil out against the national mid: Interior Room Painting mid estimate $516 here vs $520 U.S. (1% below); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $6,174 here vs $6,220 U.S. (1% below); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $387 here vs $390 U.S. (1% below).
Same-state comparison: Helena (about the same, $26.46); Billings ($26.06, 0.36 lower); Missoula ($25.78, 0.64 lower).
Local tip: Local code, permit fees, and how busy crews are this month move numbers as much as wage rates do.
Sample project ranges
| Project | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Room Painting | $225 | $516 | $1,110 |
| Exterior House Painting (default size) | $2,700 | $6,174 | $13,198 |
| Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint | $149 | $387 | $891 |
Getting quotes without the circus
- Screenshot our mid/low/high band.
- Ask three licensed, insured pros for written scopes.
- Compare exclusions — permits, haul-away, thermostats, flashing — before crowning a winner.
What usually moves the number
- Scope surprises: duct repairs, panel upgrades, extra roof layers.
- How booked local crews are this season.
- Materials choices — we only nudge materials with a dampened regional factor. See methodology.
Rebates (verify; don’t trust a random Facebook ad)
Check IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE for any incentives that apply to this project. Start with IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE.
Check our math
BLS OEWS May 2025 · local hourly means the calculator uses
| Painter (47-2141) | $26.42/hr mean |
Source: official BLS OEWS data for this area · area index: oessrcma.htm.
Contractor markup (2.0× / 2.25× / 2.5×) and the regional materials factor are ours — see methodology.
Paid listing for Great Falls, MT Painting. Partner.
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