Chemists Salary
Chemists in Montana make a median of $61,890 a year, or about $29.76 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $63,804 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 27.8% 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 $62K get you in Montana?
About chemists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Montana
Pay for chemists in Montana runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $91K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.5% 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 chemists (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Montana
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $68K | +9% | 50 |
| Billings | $60K | -3% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 27.5% 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 chemists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,656/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemist a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $62K here vs. $91K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for chemists?
Montana pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do chemists make in Montana?
The median is $61,890 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,260, and experienced chemists can clear $115,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,102/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 27.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemists 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 chemists salary is worth about $63,804 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemists 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.