Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Salary
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists in Montana make a median of $72,220 a year, or about $34.72 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $74,454 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 23.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $72K actually covers in Montana, month by month
About cartographers and photogrammetrists
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for cartographers and photogrammetrists in Montana runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $81K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 24.2% 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 cartographers and photogrammetrists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level cartographers and photogrammetrists (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $61K | -16% | 60 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a cartographers and photogrammetrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 24.2% 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 cartographers and photogrammetrists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cartographers and photogrammetrists typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,029/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cartographers and photogrammetrist a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $72K here vs. $81K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for cartographers and photogrammetrists?
Montana pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do cartographers and photogrammetrists make in Montana?
The median is $72,220 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,590, and experienced cartographers and photogrammetrists can clear $91,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,670/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 24.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a cartographers and photogrammetrists 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 cartographers and photogrammetrists salary is worth about $74,454 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cartographers and photogrammetrists 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.