Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other Salary
The median pay for a motor vehicle operators, all other in Helena, MT is $36,410/year ($17.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.67), that's roughly $38,058 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,404/month, about 56.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Helena?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Helena’s Regional Price Parity (95.67). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About motor vehicle operators, all others
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What this looks like in Helena
Motor vehicle operators, all other pay in Helena tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $37K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,404/month, which is 55.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 95.67) 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for motor vehicle operators, all others in metros near Helena, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Billings | $42K | $45K |
| Bozeman | $54K | $52K |
| Missoula | $36K | $38K |
| Great Falls | $34K | $35K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Helena, MT
Entry-level motor vehicle operators, all others (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $75K | +101% | 100 |
| District of Columbia | $70K | +88% | 980 |
| Hawaii | $61K | +64% | 230 |
| Washington | $60K | +61% | 310 |
| Oklahoma | $58K | +55% | 180 |
| Utah | $56K | +51% | 70 |
| Arizona | $56K | +50% | 360 |
| New Mexico | $54K | +46% | 160 |
| South Dakota | $54K | +45% | 100 |
| Alabama | $52K | +40% | 200 |
| New Jersey | $51K | +36% | 1,790 |
| Kansas | $50K | +34% | 70 |
| Wyoming | $49K | +31% | 80 |
| Iowa | $48K | +30% | 50 |
| Mississippi | $47K | +25% | 160 |
| California | $45K | +21% | 3,580 |
| Illinois | $45K | +21% | 840 |
| Rhode Island | $43K | +14% | 50 |
| Montana | $42K | +13% | 670 |
| Idaho | $41K | +11% | 70 |
| Colorado | $39K | +5% | 3,430 |
| New York | $39K | +5% | 3,540 |
| Delaware | $39K | +4% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $38K | +1% | 280 |
| Connecticut | $37K | +1% | 450 |
| Florida | $37K | +0% | 2,590 |
| Massachusetts | $37K | -2% | 1,210 |
| Virginia | $37K | -2% | 910 |
| Texas | $36K | -2% | 2,570 |
| Georgia | $36K | -3% | 2,210 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -3% | 140 |
| Maryland | $35K | -5% | 570 |
| Oregon | $35K | -6% | 1,190 |
| Minnesota | $35K | -7% | 1,190 |
| North Dakota | $34K | -8% | 220 |
| Michigan | $34K | -9% | 2,600 |
| Wisconsin | $34K | -9% | 710 |
| Maine | $34K | -9% | 310 |
| Tennessee | $34K | -10% | 2,310 |
| Nebraska | $33K | -10% | 760 |
| Pennsylvania | $33K | -12% | 1,320 |
| Missouri | $32K | -13% | 1,400 |
| West Virginia | $32K | -14% | 240 |
| New Hampshire | $32K | -15% | 150 |
| Ohio | $31K | -17% | 2,430 |
| Vermont | $29K | -21% | 130 |
| North Carolina | $29K | -22% | 2,000 |
| South Carolina | $28K | -25% | 450 |
| Indiana | $27K | -28% | 560 |
| Nevada | $25K | -32% | 320 |
| Kentucky | $24K | -36% | 450 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track motor vehicle operators, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Helena numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a motor vehicle operators, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Helena?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 55.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,404/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 motor vehicle operators, all others in Helena?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new motor vehicle operators, all others typically earn — is $25K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,525/month. At HUD’s $1,404/month FMR, rent would take 92% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is motor vehicle operators, all other a high-paying job in Helena?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $37K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Helena compare to the national average for motor vehicle operators, all others?
Helena pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do motor vehicle operators, all others make in Helena, MT?
The median is $36,410 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,420, and experienced motor vehicle operators, all others can clear $75,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Helena?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,521/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,404/month, which eats 55.7% 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 motor vehicle operators, all other salary go in Helena?
Helena has a Regional Price Parity of 95.67 (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 motor vehicle operators, all other salary is worth about $38,058 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do motor vehicle operators, all others 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.