Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Montana make a median of $103,720 a year, or about $49.87 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $180K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $106,928 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 17.2% 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 $104K get you in Montana?
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for lawyers in Montana runs about 35% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 17.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Montana can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $180K or more, a $118K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $108K | +5% | 410 |
| Bozeman | $107K | +3% | 200 |
| Great Falls | $106K | +3% | 140 |
| Billings | $104K | +0% | 380 |
| Missoula | $100K | -3% | 490 |
Compare to other states
Track lawyers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 17.7% 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 lawyers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,725/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is lawyer a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 35% below the national median — $104K here vs. $160K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for lawyers?
Montana pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -35%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Montana?
The median is $103,720 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,090, and experienced lawyers can clear $179,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,362/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 17.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a lawyers 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 lawyers salary is worth about $106,928 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lawyers 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.