Chemical Technicians Salary
Chemical Technicians in Montana make a median of $52,890 a year, or about $25.43 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $54,526 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 32.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $53K get you in Montana?
About chemical technicians
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for chemical technicians in Montana runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level chemical technicians (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Technicians salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $49K | -7% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track chemical technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemical technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 31.9% 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 $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemical technicians in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical technicians typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,491/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemical technician a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $53K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for chemical technicians?
Montana pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do chemical technicians make in Montana?
The median is $52,890 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,510, and experienced chemical technicians can clear $102,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,544/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 31.9% 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 chemical technicians 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 chemical technicians salary is worth about $54,526 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical technicians 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.