Airfield Operations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a airfield operations specialists in Montana is $33,990/year ($16.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $69K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $35,041 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 48.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $34K get you in Montana?
About airfield operations specialists
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for airfield operations specialists in Montana runs about 40% below the U.S. median of $57K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,129/month, which is 47.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for airfield operations specialistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level airfield operations specialists (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $69K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track airfield operations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a airfield operations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 47.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for airfield operations specialists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new airfield operations specialists typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,916/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 59% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is airfield operations specialist a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 40% below the national median — $34K here vs. $57K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for airfield operations specialists?
Montana pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $57K — that’s -40%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do airfield operations specialists make in Montana?
The median is $33,990 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,940, and experienced airfield operations specialists can clear $68,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,370/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 47.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a airfield operations specialists salary go in Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median airfield operations specialists salary is worth about $35,041 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do airfield operations specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.