Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in Montana
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Montana have a median of $70,050 a year, below the national $76,210 (−8%); the state ranks 31st of 51 states by median. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn 44% more than the median across all occupations in Montana ($48,740). Among neighbouring states, North Dakota pays more (up to $74,500 in North Dakota) and Idaho, Wyoming and South Dakota pay less (down to $60,740 in South Dakota). Montana employs 2,160 police and sheriff's patrol officers, 4.22 per 1,000 jobs, the 43rd largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.98 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 | $26.60 | $28.78 | $33.68 | $37.26 | $40.46 | $33.43 | 2,160 | 4.22 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $55,330 | $59,860 | $70,050 | $77,500 | $84,150 | $69,540 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.84 | $28.50 | $36.64 | $46.93 | $55.35 | $38.08 | 670,520 | – | – |
| Annual | $47,510 | $59,290 | $76,210 | $97,600 | $115,120 | $79,200 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 31st of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 43rd of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.98
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.22
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 police and sheriff's patrol officers, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls, MT | $37.92 | $78,870 | $56,690 | $101,380 | 130 | 3.67 | 0.85 |
| Missoula, MT | $37.31 | $77,610 | $59,860 | $96,410 | 170 | 2.54 | 0.59 |
| Helena, MT | $36.27 | $75,430 | $60,450 | $78,020 | 200 | 4.50 | 1.04 |
| Bozeman, MT | $35.73 | $74,320 | $62,270 | $92,920 | 180 | 2.55 | 0.59 |
| Billings, MT | $34.65 | $72,070 | $59,850 | $82,760 | 320 | 3.37 | 0.78 |
| West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $31.12 | $64,720 | $57,560 | $77,580 | 410 | 4.89 | 1.13 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $30.11 | $62,620 | $52,980 | $80,720 | 130 | 3.31 | 0.77 |
| East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $29.30 | $60,950 | $49,300 | $77,500 | 610 | 10.18 | 2.36 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $33.68 | $70,050 | 2,160 | 0.98 |
| Idaho | $32.21 | $66,990 | 2,810 | 0.76 |
| North Dakota | $35.82 | $74,500 | 1,630 | 0.88 |
| South Dakota | $29.20 | $60,740 | 2,000 | 1.01 |
| Wyoming | $31.80 | $66,140 | 1,310 | 1.08 |
See the national page for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (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.