Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Montana is $167,200/year ($80.39/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $231K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $172,371 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 11.1% 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 $167K get you in Montana?
About dentists, generals
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What this looks like in Montana
Dentists, general pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $167K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 11.7% 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 dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $167K. Top earners bring in $231K or more, a $167K spread from bottom to top.
Dentists, General salary by metro in Montana
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $203K | +22% | 50 |
| Missoula | $173K | +3% | 50 |
| Great Falls | $163K | -3% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track dentists, general salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $167K, rent takes 11.7% 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 dentists, generals in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,823/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $167K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Montana pays $167K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $172K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Montana?
The median is $167,200 a year, that works out to about $80 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,710, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $230,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $167K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,690/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 11.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dentists, general 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 dentists, general salary is worth about $172,371 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dentists, generals 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.