Hydrologic Technicians Salary
In Montana, hydrologic technicians earn $53,550 at the median, or about $25.75 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $55,206 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 32.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $54K get you in Montana?
About hydrologic technicians
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for hydrologic technicians in Montana runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.5% 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 hydrologic technicians (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track hydrologic 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 hydrologic technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 31.5% 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 hydrologic technicians in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologic technicians typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,404/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is hydrologic technician a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $54K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for hydrologic technicians?
Montana pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologic technicians make in Montana?
The median is $53,550 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,060, and experienced hydrologic technicians can clear $86,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,585/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 31.5% 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 hydrologic 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 hydrologic technicians salary is worth about $55,206 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do hydrologic 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.