Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Salary
In Montana, earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $71,470 at the median, or about $34.36 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $73,680 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 24% 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 $71K get you in Montana?
About earth drillers, except oil and gas
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for earth drillers, except oil and gas, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 24.4% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Montana offers a genuinely strong financial position for earth drillers, except oil and gass at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level earth drillers, except oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $78K | +10% | 40 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a earth drillers, except oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 24.4% 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 earth drillers, except oil and gas in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new earth drillers, except oil and gas typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,607/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is earth drillers, except oil and ga a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $71K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for earth drillers, except oil and gas?
Montana pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Montana?
The median is $71,470 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,110, and experienced earth drillers, except oil and gas can clear $104,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,630/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 24.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a earth drillers, except oil and gas 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 earth drillers, except oil and gas salary is worth about $73,680 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do earth drillers, except oil and gas 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.