Civil Engineers Salary
Civil Engineers in Montana make a median of $93,070 a year, or about $44.75 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $95,948 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 19.2% 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 $93K get you in Montana?
About civil engineers
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What this looks like in Montana
Civil engineers pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $93K locally vs. $101K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 19.5% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level civil engineers (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineers salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $101K | +8% | 360 |
| Billings | $97K | +4% | 400 |
| Bozeman | $85K | -9% | 280 |
| Missoula | $84K | -9% | 290 |
| Great Falls | $81K | -13% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track civil engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a civil engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 19.5% 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 civil engineers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineers typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,734/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is civil engineer a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $93K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for civil engineers?
Montana pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — below the national median.
How much do civil engineers make in Montana?
The median is $93,070 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,230, and experienced civil engineers can clear $129,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,790/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 19.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a civil engineers 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 civil engineers salary is worth about $95,948 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do civil engineers 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.