Bartenders Salary in Montana
In Montana, bartenders earn a median $26,010 a year, well below the national median of $34,340 (−24%); the state ranks 41st of 51 states by median. That is 47% less than the median across all occupations in Montana ($48,740). Among neighbouring states, South Dakota, North Dakota and Idaho pay more (up to $29,400 in South Dakota) and Wyoming pays less (down to $22,030 in Wyoming). Montana employs 5,370 bartenders, 10.5 per 1,000 jobs, the 35th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 2.16 means the occupation is more concentrated in Montana than nationally.
Montana vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Montana | Hourly | $10.55 | $10.73 | $12.51 | $13.83 | $15.81 | $13.08 | 5,370 | 10.50 | 2.16 |
| Annual | $21,940 | $22,310 | $26,010 | $28,770 | $32,870 | $27,210 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $9.67 | $13.17 | $16.51 | $22.87 | $35.47 | $19.61 | 756,390 | – | – |
| Annual | $20,110 | $27,400 | $34,340 | $47,570 | $73,770 | $40,790 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 41st of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 35th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 2.16
- Jobs per 1,000
- 10.50
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Montana's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Montana
5 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching Montana publish a row for bartenders, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $13.00 | $27,040 | $21,940 | $34,660 | 740 | 10.29 | 2.11 |
| Helena, MT | $12.60 | $26,210 | $21,980 | $29,840 | 390 | 8.82 | 1.81 |
| Missoula, MT | $12.49 | $25,990 | $21,940 | $34,050 | 630 | 9.37 | 1.93 |
| Great Falls, MT | $12.17 | $25,310 | $21,940 | $29,310 | 400 | 11.05 | 2.27 |
| Billings, MT | $11.32 | $23,550 | $21,940 | $30,520 | 780 | 8.27 | 1.70 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $13.10 | $27,250 | $21,940 | $33,690 | 650 | 16.73 | 3.44 |
| East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $12.94 | $26,920 | $21,940 | $30,740 | 830 | 13.83 | 2.84 |
| West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $12.34 | $25,660 | $21,940 | $30,800 | 940 | 11.19 | 2.30 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $12.51 | $26,010 | 5,370 | 2.16 |
| Idaho | $13.10 | $27,240 | 3,430 | 0.82 |
| North Dakota | $13.96 | $29,040 | 3,960 | 1.90 |
| South Dakota | $14.14 | $29,400 | 3,930 | 1.77 |
| Wyoming | $10.59 | $22,030 | 2,660 | 1.95 |
See the national page for Bartenders (every state ranked) and the Montana wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Montana estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.