Roof replacement · MT · Mountain
Roof replacement cost in Montana
Montana now requires every construction contractor, roofers included, to hold a state license, and its winters weigh more on roofs than its storms.
Wages: BLS, May 2025 (released ) · figures checked · Built by Radif Partners · How prices are built
- Typical roof job, all house sizes
- $12,190
- Middle half of jobs
- $7,500 to $18,740
- Roofer mean wage
- $27.41/h
- Versus U.S. roofers
- −2%
Roof replacement in Montana, hired out
$14,050
Most jobs between $9,750 and $19,510 (middle half of reported prices)
| House size group | 1,500 to 1,999 sq ft |
| National median (homeowners’ reports) | $13,192 |
| Regional level (Census division) | +4.7% |
| State labor adjustment | +1.7% |
| Typical price in Montana | $14,050 |
Roofers in Montana: $27.41 an hour on average, 2% below the national mean. Range from homeowners who hired a professional (2021 to 2023, American Housing Survey 2023), in August 2026 dollars; permits, tear-off of unusual materials, structural repairs and local surcharges vary job to job. How this is calculated.
A roof replacement done by a professional in Montana runs about $12,190, and most jobs cost between $7,500 and $18,740, roughly 6% over the national median of $11,450. Two forces push it up. First, the Mountain division, which includes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, reported prices above the national level in the 2023 American Housing Survey. Second, Montana roofers are paid more than the division average: BLS measured a mean of $27.41 an hour in May 2025, against $26.11 in Idaho and $23.89 in Wyoming, though still under the $27.95 national mean. On the hazard side, FEMA rates expected annual losses to buildings from winter weather as Very High, while hail, wind and tornado losses are all Relatively Low. Since January 1, 2026, the roofer you hire must also hold a Montana construction contractor license.
Montana's contractor license now covers reroofing
Until recently Montana asked contractors to register. Under the change reported by the Department of Labor and Industry, all construction contractors in Montana must be licensed with the department from January 1, 2026, replacing the old registration, and the statute's definition of a construction contractor expressly includes installing or repairing roofing. It is a general contractor license, not a roofing specialty credential, so it tells you the company is on the state's books rather than that it passed a roofing exam. Ask for the license number with the quote and look it up before you sign.
The building code is moving too. The department lists the 2024 edition of the International Residential Code, as adopted by Montana, effective September 26, 2026. If a permit applies to your reroof in your city or county, the inspector works from that edition once it takes effect.
Snow and smoke, not hail
Montana's profile in the FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) looks nothing like the plains to its east. Expected annual losses to buildings from winter weather are rated Very High, though the dollar figure is modest at $2.3 million because the population is small. Wildfire is the largest line at $69 million, rated Relatively Moderate. Hail sits at Relatively Low, strong wind and tornadoes at Relatively Low, and the index does not score hurricanes for Montana at all. For a homeowner, that points the conversation toward snow load, ice dams at the eaves and ember resistance, rather than toward impact ratings.
What a Montana quote should cover
On a house of 3,000 to 3,999 sq ft, the estimate here is $17,070, against $10,490 for 1,000 to 1,499 sq ft. Have the contractor state how much ice and water barrier goes along the eaves and in the valleys, whether the old shingles come off down to the deck, and how many sheets of replacement plywood the price already includes. North Dakota roofers average $29.11, a reminder that pay across the northern tier is not uniformly low.
Wildfire exposure is worth raising with the bidder as well. If your house sits near grass or timber, ask which coverings and vent products the company installs that carry a fire classification, and what that choice adds to the total. A separate line for that option lets you weigh it without guessing.
Montana roof prices by house size
| House size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 sq ft | $3,950 | $8,530 | $14,630 |
| 1,000 to 1,499 sq ft | $6,580 | $10,490 | $14,630 |
| 1,500 to 1,999 sq ft | $9,750 | $14,050 | $19,510 |
| 2,000 to 2,499 sq ft | $9,750 | $13,410 | $19,510 |
| 2,500 to 2,999 sq ft | $9,750 | $14,630 | $23,420 |
| 3,000 to 3,999 sq ft | $12,190 | $17,070 | $23,420 |
| 4,000 sq ft or more | $10,540 | $18,290 | $29,270 |
Other jobs in Montana
| Job | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water heater replacement | $1,120 | $1,750 | $2,550 |
| Central air conditioning | $5,200 | $8,660 | $12,370 |
| Furnace or other built-in heating | $3,940 | $6,570 | $9,850 |
| Fence | $2,240 | $4,490 | $7,820 |
| Deck, porch or patio | $3,650 | $7,970 | $16,490 |
| Driveway or walkway | $1,780 | $3,610 | $7,100 |
Trade wages in Montana
| Occupation | MT mean hourly wage | U.S. mean | MT jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers | $27.41 | $27.95 | 370 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters | $37.59 | $34.70 | 1,860 |
| Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $29.94 | $31.14 | 1,230 |
| Electricians | $34.58 | $34.37 | 2,750 |
| Carpenters | $28.68 | $31.55 | 4,030 |
| Painters, construction and maintenance | $26.30 | $26.64 | 920 |