Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in Montana make a median of $89,920 a year, or about $43.23 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $92,701 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 19.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $90K actually covers in Montana, month by month
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in Montana
Computer programmers pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $90K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 20.1% 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 computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
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Track computer programmers salary changes
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 computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 20.1% 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 computer programmers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,242/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer programmer a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $90K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for computer programmers?
Montana pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in Montana?
The median is $89,920 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,250, and experienced computer programmers can clear $123,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,621/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 20.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer programmers 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 computer programmers salary is worth about $92,701 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer programmers 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.