Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Montana is $106,040/year ($50.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $109,320 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 16.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $106K get you in Montana?
About power plant operators
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What this looks like in Montana
Power plant operators pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $106K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 17.4% 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 power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 17.4% 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 power plant operators in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,770/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $106K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Montana pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Montana?
The median is $106,040 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,840, and experienced power plant operators can clear $120,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,486/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 17.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a power plant operators 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 power plant operators salary is worth about $109,320 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do power plant operators 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.