Located in the Western United States along the Canadian border, Montana contains 77 mountain ranges that help to comprise the Rocky Mountains. Known for its national parks, Yellow Stone National Park, Glacier National Park, and Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument are all located within the state.
In addition to the tourism that is generated by the scenic landscape and popular parks, oil and coal mining, wheat farming, hard rock mining, and lumber are other major industries in the state.
Montana has seen some recent gains in IT jobs over the last couple of years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Montana saw a 3.8 percent growth in engineering jobs over the last year. The biggest gains were in chemical engineering, environmental engineering, and industrial engineering.
Here are some of the largest companies in Montana hiring engineering professionals: Billing Clinic, Aageson Farm, Public Health and Human Svc., Blackfeet Tribe, Big Sky Resort, H K Contractors, and Teletech.
Engineering Education in Montana
Students who wish to study engineering in Montana will find that there are eight accredited institutions, which offer engineering programs. Of the eight schools, three are tribal, and one is a private, non-profit college. Students may earn an engineering certificate, Associate’s degree, Bachelors degree, Masters degree, and/or a PhD in Engineering, depending on the offerings at each of the eight institutions.
The National Society of Professional Engineers offers scholarships to engineering students across the country. Students in Montana may contact the state chapter, the Montana Society of Engineers, for additional information. School-specific scholarships are also available to engineering students through the respective colleges and universities and are generally based on merit. Engineering scholarships are also offered to women and African-American students through the National Society of Women Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers.
Outlook for Engineering Jobs in Montana
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Montana has seen a 3.8 percent growth in Engineering careers over the last couple of years. This is highlighted by a large increase in Chemical Engineers (31.5%), Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (22.5%) and Industrial Engineers (22.3%). The BLS data indicates that Montana is a solid place to look for careers in Engineering.