Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers Salary
The median pay for a jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in Montana is $37,580/year ($18.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $38,742 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 44% 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 $38K get you in Montana?
About jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Montana
Pay for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in Montana runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $53K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,129/month, which is 43.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for jewelers and precious stone and metal workerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level jewelers and precious stone and metal workers (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track jewelers and precious stone and metal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a jewelers and precious stone and metal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 43.5% 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 $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new jewelers and precious stone and metal workers typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,715/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 66% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is jewelers and precious stone and metal worker a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $38K here vs. $53K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers?
Montana pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — below the national median.
How much do jewelers and precious stone and metal workers make in Montana?
The median is $37,580 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,590, and experienced jewelers and precious stone and metal workers can clear $74,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,594/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 43.5% 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 jewelers and precious stone and metal 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 jewelers and precious stone and metal workers salary is worth about $38,742 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do jewelers and precious stone and metal 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.