Economists Salary
In Montana, economists earn $89,340 at the median, or about $42.95 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $92,103 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 20% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $89K actually covers in Montana, month by month
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for economists in Montana runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 20.2% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Montana can be a reasonable trade-off for economists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Economists salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $89K | +0% | 30 |
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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 economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 20.2% 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 economists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,543/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is economist a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $89K here vs. $125K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for economists?
Montana pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Montana?
The median is $89,340 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,850, and experienced economists can clear $116,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,589/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 20.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a economists 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 economists salary is worth about $92,103 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do economists 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.