Montana Colleges and Universities: Career Training Options

The trade, transportation, and utilities industry employs most of Montana's workforce of 489,000. The government--federal, state, and local--comes in as the second-largest employer. The educational and health services industry employs 58,400 residents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the leisure and hospitality industry employs 58,600.

Tourism is an important resource to Montana, which is home to Glacier National Park and three of the five entrances to Yellowstone National Park. Agriculture is another essential industry, along with lumber, ranching, and mining. Foresters living in Billings, Montana earn anywhere from $42,700 to $62,000 yearly, according to Salary.com. Earnings figures depend on education, job duties, and work experience. Entry-level mine engineers in Billings, Montana earn an average of $52,400, while more experienced engineers can earn anywhere from $73,200 to $92,400. Mine managers in Billings take home an average salary of $107,400. While no career training or certificate program can guarantee a certain career or salary, many fields offer higher compensation and better career opportunities to workers willing to commit to an education in the field.

The healthcare industry in Billings and across the state is expected to see growth similar to national averages over the next few years. Prospective healthcare workers could see advancement by enrolling in degree or certificate programs in Billings.

Sources:

• Salary.com
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics