Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Montana is $70,050/year ($33.68/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $72,216 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 24.5% 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 $70K get you in Montana?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in Montana
Police and sheriff's patrol officers pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $70K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 24.8% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | $79K | +13% | 130 |
| Missoula | $78K | +11% | 170 |
| Helena | $75K | +8% | 200 |
| Bozeman | $74K | +6% | 180 |
| Billings | $72K | +3% | 320 |
Compare to other states
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 24.8% 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 police and sheriff's patrol officers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,320/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is police and sheriff's patrol officer a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $70K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Montana pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — below the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Montana?
The median is $70,050 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,330, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $84,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,553/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 24.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a police and sheriff's patrol officers 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 police and sheriff's patrol officers salary is worth about $72,216 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do police and sheriff's patrol officers 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.