Editors Salary
In Montana, editors earn $61,750 at the median, or about $29.69 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $63,660 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 27.8% 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 $62K get you in Montana?
About editors
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for editors in Montana runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $78K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 editors (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Editors salary by metro in Montana
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $68K | +11% | 40 |
| Helena | $67K | +8% | 30 |
| Bozeman | $62K | +1% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track editors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a editor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 27.6% 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 editors in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new editors typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,931/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is editor a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $62K here vs. $78K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for editors?
Montana pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do editors make in Montana?
The median is $61,750 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,190, and experienced editors can clear $122,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,093/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 27.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a editors 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 editors salary is worth about $63,660 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do editors 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.