Lawyers Salary in Montana
In Montana, lawyers earn a median $103,720 a year, well below the national median of $159,670 (−35%); the state ranks 43rd of 51 states by median. Lawyers earn 2.1 times the median across all occupations in Montana ($48,740). Among neighbouring states, North Dakota pays more (up to $106,880 in North Dakota) and Idaho, South Dakota and Wyoming pay less (down to $100,130 in Wyoming). Montana employs 2,380 lawyers, 4.65 per 1,000 jobs, the 42nd largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.96 is close to the national share.
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 | $29.85 | $40.47 | $49.87 | $64.26 | $86.36 | $55.69 | 2,380 | 4.65 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $62,090 | $84,180 | $103,720 | $133,660 | $179,620 | $115,830 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $37.67 | $49.51 | $76.76 | $106.43 | $169.04 | $89.35 | 754,500 | – | – |
| Annual | $78,360 | $102,990 | $159,670 | $221,370 | $351,600 | $185,840 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 43rd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 42nd of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.96
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.65
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 lawyers, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, MT | $52.12 | $108,410 | $67,890 | $156,640 | 410 | 9.31 | 1.92 |
| Bozeman, MT | $51.33 | $106,760 | $62,310 | $192,370 | 200 | 2.82 | 0.58 |
| Great Falls, MT | $51.18 | $106,450 | $54,250 | $154,430 | 140 | 3.94 | 0.81 |
| Billings, MT | $50.07 | $104,150 | $63,830 | $190,420 | 380 | 4.00 | 0.83 |
| Missoula, MT | $48.31 | $100,490 | $63,430 | $176,090 | 490 | 7.35 | 1.51 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $49.30 | $102,540 | $58,510 | $168,400 | 130 | 3.31 | 0.68 |
| West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $48.75 | $101,400 | $54,890 | $238,240 | 390 | 4.64 | 0.96 |
| East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $48.27 | $100,390 | $56,180 | $155,510 | 210 | 3.43 | 0.71 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $49.87 | $103,720 | 2,380 | 0.96 |
| Idaho | $49.71 | $103,400 | 2,490 | 0.60 |
| North Dakota | $51.39 | $106,880 | 1,050 | 0.50 |
| South Dakota | $49.06 | $102,040 | 1,360 | 0.61 |
| Wyoming | $48.14 | $100,130 | 900 | 0.66 |
See the national page for Lawyers (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.