FairangePainting · MT
Painting costs in Helena, MT
Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only
How this market compares
Helena, MT has its own Painting labor market; here is what the BLS numbers say before you chase bids.
On the national Painting wage ladder (487 areas), Helena, MT sits at #122 with a $26.46 mean. Inside MT, that is rank 2 of 7 published areas. The published p10–p90 band runs $17.01 to $34.67 (a $17.66 spread around the $26.46 mean; median $28.90).
OEWS counts about 50 Painters, Construction and Maintenance jobs in this area. Nationwide that occupation is about 225,190. How a few common projects pencil out against the national mid: Interior Room Painting mid estimate $517 here vs $520 U.S. (0% below); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $6,182 here vs $6,220 U.S. (1% below); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $388 here vs $390 U.S. (1% below).
Nearby / same-state markets worth checking: Great Falls (about the same, $26.42); Billings ($26.06, 0.40 lower); Missoula ($25.78, 0.68 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 | $216 | $517 | $1,186 |
| Exterior House Painting (default size) | $2,566 | $6,182 | $14,350 |
| Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint | $142 | $388 | $960 |
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) | $26.46/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.
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