Registered Nurses Salary
Registered Nurses in Montana make a median of $85,280 a year, or about $41 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $87,918 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 20.9% 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 $85K get you in Montana?
About registered nurses
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for registered nurses in Montana runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 21% 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 registered nursess who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level registered nurses (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Registered Nurses salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $99K | +16% | 1,070 |
| Helena | $99K | +16% | 990 |
| Billings | $82K | -3% | 2,550 |
| Missoula | $82K | -4% | 1,570 |
| Great Falls | $78K | -8% | 880 |
Compare to other states
Track registered nurses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 21% 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 registered nurses in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new registered nurses typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,207/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is registered nurse a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $85K here vs. $98K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for registered nurses?
Montana pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do registered nurses make in Montana?
The median is $85,280 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,120, and experienced registered nurses can clear $113,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,371/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 21% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a registered nurses 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 registered nurses salary is worth about $87,918 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do registered nurses 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.