Montana Commissioner of Labor and Industry
| Montana Commissioner of Labor and Industry | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $131,144 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $90,923,091 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the governor's pleasure |
| Authority: | Montana Constitution, Article XII, Section 2 the Executive Department |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Montana Commissioner of Labor and Industry
Sarah Swanson | |
| Other Montana Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Public Instruction • Agriculture Director • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Director • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Montana Commissioner of Labor and Industry is an appointed state executive position in the Montana state government.
The commissioner serves as head of the Department of Labor and Industry. Their mission statement is "to promote the well-being and opportunities of Montana's workers, employers, and citizens, and uphold their rights and responsibilities."[1]
Current officeholder
The current Montana Commissioner of Labor and Industry is Sarah Swanson (nonpartisan). Swanson assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The state Constitution establishes the Department of Labor and Industry in Article XII, the Executive Department.
Under Article XII, Section 2:
|
The legislature shall provide for a Department of Labor and Industry, headed by a Commissioner appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. |
Appointments
Per 2-15-111 of the Montana Code, the commissioner is appointed by the governor with confirmation of the state Senate. The commissioner serves at the pleasure of the governor and may be removed at any time.[2]
Qualifications
Title 2-15-1701 of the Montana Code describes the qualifications for the office of commissioner:
| (1) There is a department of labor and industry. As prescribed in Article XII, section 2, of the Montana constitution, the department head is the commissioner of labor and industry.
(2) The commissioner must be appointed and serve as provided in 2-15-111. (3) The commissioner must receive an annual salary in an amount equal to other department directors. (4) Before entering on the duties of the office, the commissioner shall take and subscribe to the oath of office prescribed by the Montana constitution.[3] |
Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Montana Commissioner of Labor and Industry has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Duties
The commissioner presides over the operations of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, which provides "oversight and regulation of the Montana Workers' Compensation system, enforces state and federal labor standards, enforces state and federal safety and occupational health laws, provides adjudicative services in labor-management disputes, establishes and enforces building industry codes, licenses and regulates professions and occupations, regulates all weighing or measuring devices used in commercial transactions, conducts research, and collects employment statistics that enable strategic planning."[4]
Divisions
As of January 26. 2021, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry contains the following divisions:
- Business Standards
- Employment Relations
- Unemployment Insurance
- Workers' Compensation Court
- Workforce Services[5]
State budget
- See also: Montana state budget and finances
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry's budget for Fiscal Year 2025 was $90,923,091.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $131,144, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $130,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $130,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $112,935, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $111,895, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $110,787, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $109,690, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $108,650, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary of $107,610, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner earned a salary of $102,485, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner earned a salary of $99,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2010
In 2010, the commissioner earned a salary of $96,967, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Montana Commissioner of Labor and Industry has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
- John Elizandro (acting) (2023)
- Laurie Esau (2021-2023)
Recent news
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Contact information
Address:
1315 Lockey Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: 406-444-2840
Fax: 406-444-1394
TTY: 406-444-0532
Email: dliquestions@mt.gov
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Montana Department Of Labor and Industry, "About DLI," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Code Annotated, " 2-15-111. Appointment and qualifications of department heads," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Department Of Labor And Industry -- Head," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Department Of Labor and Industry, "About DLI," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Department Of Labor and Industry, "About DLI," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "HB002," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 30, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed June 22, 2011
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