Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Montana
At $38,060 a year, the median for cooks, restaurant in Montana is close to the national median of $37,390 (+2%); Montana ranks 18th of 51 states by median. That is 22% less than the median across all occupations in Montana ($48,740). Montana pays more than every neighbouring state: Wyoming, North Dakota, Idaho and South Dakota range from $36,220 in South Dakota to $36,830 in Wyoming. Montana employs 7,580 cooks, restaurant, 14.8 per 1,000 jobs, the 40th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.63 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 | $14.13 | $16.87 | $18.30 | $21.11 | $22.92 | $18.74 | 7,580 | 14.82 | 1.63 |
| Annual | $29,380 | $35,100 | $38,060 | $43,910 | $47,670 | $38,980 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $13.80 | $16.35 | $17.98 | $21.45 | $23.03 | $18.62 | 1,409,890 | – | – |
| Annual | $28,700 | $34,010 | $37,390 | $44,620 | $47,900 | $38,730 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 18th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 40th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.63
- Jobs per 1,000
- 14.82
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 cooks, restaurant, 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 | $20.40 | $42,430 | $33,280 | $51,470 | 1,370 | 18.92 | 2.09 |
| Billings, MT | $18.39 | $38,260 | $30,300 | $47,340 | 1,370 | 14.61 | 1.61 |
| Missoula, MT | $18.31 | $38,080 | $30,010 | $47,890 | 1,020 | 15.21 | 1.68 |
| Helena, MT | $18.28 | $38,030 | $29,650 | $47,740 | 570 | 12.85 | 1.42 |
| Great Falls, MT | $17.60 | $36,610 | $28,700 | $46,140 | 490 | 13.32 | 1.47 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $18.01 | $37,460 | $25,720 | $47,250 | 740 | 19.01 | 2.10 |
| West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $18.00 | $37,440 | $28,700 | $47,330 | 1,330 | 15.84 | 1.75 |
| East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $17.80 | $37,010 | $22,960 | $47,210 | 680 | 11.24 | 1.24 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $18.30 | $38,060 | 7,580 | 1.63 |
| Idaho | $17.52 | $36,440 | 8,130 | 1.05 |
| North Dakota | $17.53 | $36,470 | 4,490 | 1.15 |
| South Dakota | $17.42 | $36,220 | 1,890 | 0.46 |
| Wyoming | $17.71 | $36,830 | 2,710 | 1.06 |
See the national page for Cooks, Restaurant (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.