How to Find a Job in Bozeman, Montana

​As any local will tell you, jobs are everywhere, but housing is scarce. Secure housing and have some extra money in your pocket before moving here. 

Most condos and townhomes rent for about $2,000-2,200 for a 2 bedroom and $3,000 for a 3 bedroom. Rental prices are now comparable to a larger city like Denver or the outer areas of Seattle. 

If you fail to secure housing before moving to Bozeman, you might be urban camping in an RV near Winco, like much of Bozeman’s homeless population. 

Now, back to how you can find a job in Bozeman, Montana…

Getting hired fast

If you have construction, laborer, CDL, or customer service experience, you can get hired very quickly. 

We have a shortage of construction jobs in every field (concrete, machine drivers, painters, carpenters, electricians, general laborers, etc). 

There is much more competition for high paying white collar jobs, because the median income here is no longer is enough money to buy a home. You must make six figures now or have a large down payment to afford a starter $400,000-500,000 condo or townhome. 

Help Wanted Signs

If you can afford to work a low wage job ($19-22/hour), simply walk into any department store, hardware store, or retail store, and get an application. They need people badly because most people can’t afford to live here making $20/hour anymore. 

In summer 2023, these companies are paying  the new real minimum wage in Bozeman (~$20/hour)

Aleworks (exp dishwashers) - $25/hour

Jersey Mike’s - $23/hour

UPS (Package Handler) - $23/hour

Target - $22/hour

Hertz (car washer / attendant) - $22/hour

Home Depot - $

Kenyon Noble - $

Holiday Gas Station - $

Hotel front desks ~$20/hour

The Bay (dishwasher) - $20/hour

Domino’s (Driver) - $18/hour

Spring Meadows (Caregiver) - $18/hour

Costco - $17.50/hour

Open Range (dishwasher) - $17/hour

Why is the real minimum wage in Bozeman so high?

During the pandemic, many people near retirement age left the workforce. Rents also skyrocketed in 2021 and 2022 when landlords realized they could take the rent higher and higher because not enough affordable housing exists here to keep up with demand. 

Bozeman also has a lot of wealthy families with high enough incomes that their teenage kids don’t need to work, which removes many young people from the workforce. Some families are wealthy enough that their kids get brand new cars in high school. 

With bedrooms renting for about $1,000 each on average, a job paying $20/hour is not workable if someone has student loans, a car payment, or a health condition requiring extra money every month.

Currently there are about five homeless communities of people camping in RVs around Bozeman due to the housing crisis. Most of these people do work, but housing requires having thousands of dollars to get a into a new place. If these campers fell on a string of bad luck, have bad credit, or a criminal history, it can be almost impossible to get a rental in Bozeman. 

Where can jobs be found in Bozeman? 

LinkedIn

• Professional positions tend to be posted here more than Indeed.  
• If you have white collar or technical experience, your resume can help you get hired here. 

Indeed

• Where to look for entry level and low-skill jobs  

Staffing agencies

• Big Sky Staffing
• LC Staffing
• Express Employment

Facebook Groups and Facebook Marketplace

• Residents and business professionals are constantly looking for babysitters, cleaners, handymen, and contractors.  
• Construction jobs are regularly posted and boosted by companies in Bozeman and Big Sky. 

Large employers in Bozeman

• Montana State University - wages are low for most entry and mid-level positions, but it could be doable for people with another source of income or someone who is not the primary breadwinner. 
• Bozeman Health - lots of technician, nursing, and entry level jobs here, as of 2023. 
• City of Bozeman - lots of entry level and laborer jobs, but the pay may require you to have 2-3 roommates or urban camp in an RV.

Zip Recruiter

• I don’t know anyone local in Bozeman that uses this for job hunting.