Forest and Conservation Technicians Salary
Forest and Conservation Technicians in Montana make a median of $52,420 a year, or about $25.2 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $54,041 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 32.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Montana?
About forest and conservation technicians
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What this looks like in Montana
Forest and conservation technicians pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $52K locally vs. $55K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.1% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level forest and conservation technicians (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Forest and Conservation Technicians salary by metro in Montana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $59K | +13% | 330 |
| Helena | $54K | +3% | 170 |
| Billings | $53K | +2% | 100 |
| Bozeman | $53K | +2% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track forest and conservation technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forest and conservation technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 32.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for forest and conservation technicians in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forest and conservation technicians typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,500/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is forest and conservation technician a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $52K locally vs. $55K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for forest and conservation technicians?
Montana pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do forest and conservation technicians make in Montana?
The median is $52,420 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,660, and experienced forest and conservation technicians can clear $80,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,514/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 32.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a forest and conservation technicians 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 forest and conservation technicians salary is worth about $54,041 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do forest and conservation technicians 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.