Plant and System Operators, All Other Salary
The median pay for a plant and system operators, all other in Montana is $81,340/year ($39.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $83,856 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 22% 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 $81K get you in Montana?
About plant and system operators, all others
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for plant and system operators, all other, local pay runs about 30% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 21.9% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Montana offers a genuinely strong financial position for plant and system operators, all others at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level plant and system operators, all others (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $84K | +3% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track plant and system operators, all other 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 plant and system operators, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 21.9% 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 plant and system operators, all others in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new plant and system operators, all others typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,640/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is plant and system operators, all other a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay is 30% above the national median — $81K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for plant and system operators, all others?
Montana pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do plant and system operators, all others make in Montana?
The median is $81,340 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,670, and experienced plant and system operators, all others can clear $89,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,160/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 21.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a plant and system operators, all other 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 plant and system operators, all other salary is worth about $83,856 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do plant and system 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.