Budget Analysts Salary
In Montana, budget analysts earn $79,700 at the median, or about $38.32 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $82,165 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 21.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Montana?
About budget analysts
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for budget analysts in Montana runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $92K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 22.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Montana can be a reasonable trade-off for budget analystss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level budget analysts (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Budget Analysts salary by metro in Montana
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $80K | +0% | 150 |
| Missoula | $63K | -22% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track budget analysts salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a budget analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 22.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for budget analysts in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new budget analysts typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,736/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is budget analyst a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $80K here vs. $92K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for budget analysts?
Montana pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — below the national median.
How much do budget analysts make in Montana?
The median is $79,700 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,260, and experienced budget analysts can clear $103,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,072/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 22.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a budget analysts 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 budget analysts salary is worth about $82,165 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do budget analysts 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.