Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in Montana is $91,450/year ($43.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $94,278 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 19.5% 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 $91K get you in Montana?
About physical therapists
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for physical therapists in Montana runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $103K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 19.8% 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 physical therapistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $91K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $97K | +7% | 150 |
| Billings | $97K | +6% | 230 |
| Helena | $84K | -8% | 100 |
| Missoula | $84K | -8% | 210 |
| Great Falls | $82K | -10% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track physical therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $91K, rent takes 19.8% 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 physical therapists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,709/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physical therapist a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $91K here vs. $103K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for physical therapists?
Montana pays $91K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in Montana?
The median is $91,450 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,490, and experienced physical therapists can clear $115,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $91K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,703/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 19.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physical therapists 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 physical therapists salary is worth about $94,278 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical therapists 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.