Montana apprenticeship program helps veterans enter skilled trades

At Old Montana Electric, Brendan Cottrill is building a civilian career the same way he learned to handle military life, by showing up early, staying busy and taking direction on the job. His father, Eric Cottrill, registered the Jefferson City electrical contractor as an apprenticeship organization so veterans could train there, turning one family business into a local pipeline for skilled labor.

A local route into a statewide program

That family story sits inside a much larger workforce system. Montana says more than 3,400 people are actively working and training in registered apprenticeships statewide, up from nearly 3,150 active apprenticeships at the end of September 2024, when the state also reported more than 680 businesses using the model. Lewis and Clark County is one of the counties where apprenticeship activity is concentrated, and the state says roughly four out of five apprenticeships are located in its most populous counties.

For Helena-area veterans, the program is available close to home. Montana’s apprenticeship office says the Helena contact point is 406-444-4100 or apprenticeship@mt.gov, and the state’s sponsor map shows employers and sponsors in nearly every county. The program is employer-driven and typically requires at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job training, plus related classroom instruction, and completion leads to an Apprenticeship Completion Certificate that can support a journeyman license or other occupational certification.

Which trades are actually hiring

The trades on the table are the ones Lewis and Clark County already depends on: electrical work, plumbing and carpentry, along with sprinkler fitting and iron work. Montana’s apprenticeship report says electrical, plumbing and carpentry remain the core of the program, and current sponsor listings include plumbing apprentices for Helena, inside wireman apprentices and ironworker-related training. That matters in a county where construction is still one of the state’s fastest-moving labor markets.

The local construction economy gives the program real urgency. Montana’s January 2026 sector analysis says construction jobs pay an average annual wage of $71,250, well above the statewide average of $60,037, and that the industry is projected to add 360 jobs per year through 2034 with about 3,700 annual openings. Specialty trade contractors, including plumbers, electricians and carpenters, are the largest subsector, which is exactly where apprenticeship can shorten the time between a vacancy and a trained worker.

What veterans earn while they train

Apprenticeship is attractive because it is not a wait-until-later model. Montana describes it as earn-while-you-learn training, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says GI Bill benefits can help cover living expenses while apprentices are in approved on-the-job training, with Post-9/11 users also eligible for money for books and supplies. In Brendan Cottrill’s case, he said that help with rent takes stress off his plate while he is in school and on the job.

The wage picture in Helena shows why that combination matters. Current salary snapshots put apprentice electricians in Helena at about $22.76 an hour, apprentice plumbers at about $17.13 an hour, and carpenter apprentices at about $18.95 an hour. Those are solid entry wages for people moving into skilled work, and they come before any eligible GI Bill support for housing or books is added on top.

Why employers keep leaning on veterans

Employers do not just get labor from the arrangement; they get a type of worker they already know how to trust. The U.S. Department of Labor says veteran apprentices often bring higher retention, proven leadership, the ability to work under pressure and a strong work ethic, and federal apprenticeship data show roughly 90% of completers remain employed after finishing, with an average starting salary of $80,000. That is a powerful combination for shops trying to build crews that stay put.

Montana also gives employers a financial reason to build the pipeline. The state’s apprenticeship tax credit offers $750 for each new apprentice and $1,500 for each new veteran apprentice, which can help offset the cost of setting up a program. Montana says apprenticeship sponsors can also qualify for additional trades education and training tax credits, making the model more attractive to small shops that need help growing without losing control of training quality.

Why Brendan Cottrill’s path resonates

Brendan Cottrill’s path is about more than a job title. He returned from overseas unsure of what came next, then found a setting that gave him structure, a mentor and a plan to finish a four-year apprenticeship, earn his license, help his father retire and eventually take over the business. Eric Cottrill said his apprentices “show up,” and Brendan said the work has helped him stay grounded alongside other veterans who understand the transition from service to civilian life.

That is why the program matters in Lewis and Clark County. It helps a business in Jefferson City build a succession plan, gives Helena-area veterans a paid route into a licensed trade and feeds a construction economy that still needs more electricians, plumbers and carpenters than the labor market is producing on its own. For a county built on service, government and construction, apprenticeship is becoming one of the clearest ways to turn military experience into stable wages, benefits and a longer career.