Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Montana is $94,190/year ($45.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $97,103 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 19% 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 $94K get you in Montana?
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in Montana
Mechanical engineers pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $94K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 19.3% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Montana
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $108K | +15% | 120 |
| Missoula | $90K | -5% | 80 |
| Bozeman | $88K | -7% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 19.3% 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 mechanical engineers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,949/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $94K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Montana pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Montana?
The median is $94,190 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,820, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $133,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,850/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 19.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mechanical engineers 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 mechanical engineers salary is worth about $97,103 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mechanical engineers 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.