Highway Maintenance Workers Salary
In Montana, highway maintenance workers earn $60,960 at the median, or about $29.31 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $62,845 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 28.2% 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 $61K get you in Montana?
About highway maintenance workers
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for highway maintenance workers, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% 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 highway maintenance workers (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Highway Maintenance Workers salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $65K | +7% | 60 |
| Great Falls | $63K | +3% | 40 |
| Billings | $62K | +2% | 180 |
| Missoula | $61K | +0% | 110 |
| Helena | $60K | -2% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track highway maintenance workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a highway maintenance worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 27.9% 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 highway maintenance workers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new highway maintenance workers typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,039/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is highway maintenance worker a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $61K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for highway maintenance workers?
Montana pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do highway maintenance workers make in Montana?
The median is $60,960 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,650, and experienced highway maintenance workers can clear $65,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,044/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 27.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a highway maintenance workers 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 highway maintenance workers salary is worth about $62,845 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do highway maintenance workers 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.