Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Montana make a median of $73,920 a year, or about $35.54 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $76,206 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 23.2% 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 $74K get you in Montana?
About conservation scientists
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What this looks like in Montana
Conservation scientists pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 23.7% 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 conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in Montana
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $84K | +14% | 80 |
| Bozeman | $75K | +2% | 90 |
| Helena | $69K | -6% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track conservation scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 23.7% 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 conservation scientists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,920/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is conservation scientist a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Montana pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Montana?
The median is $73,920 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,660, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $106,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,761/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 23.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a conservation scientists 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 conservation scientists salary is worth about $76,206 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do conservation scientists 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.