Registered Nurses Salary in Montana
Registered Nurses in Montana have a median of $85,280 a year, below the national $97,550 (−13%); the state ranks 30th of 51 states by median. Registered Nurses earn 75% more than the median across all occupations in Montana ($48,740). Among neighbouring states, Idaho pays more (up to $92,460 in Idaho) and Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota pay less (down to $78,060 in South Dakota). Montana employs 10,950 registered nurses, 21.4 per 1,000 jobs, the 47th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.99 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 | $33.71 | $38.56 | $41.00 | $48.46 | $54.77 | $43.99 | 10,950 | 21.41 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $70,120 | $80,210 | $85,280 | $100,800 | $113,920 | $91,510 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $33.14 | $38.62 | $46.90 | $54.02 | $66.09 | $48.76 | 3,379,720 | – | – |
| Annual | $68,940 | $80,330 | $97,550 | $112,350 | $137,470 | $101,420 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 30th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 47th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.99
- Jobs per 1,000
- 21.41
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 registered nurses, 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 | $47.75 | $99,310 | $80,810 | $120,260 | 1,070 | 14.78 | 0.68 |
| Helena, MT | $47.45 | $98,690 | $78,620 | $126,400 | 990 | 22.26 | 1.02 |
| Billings, MT | $39.57 | $82,300 | $70,120 | $116,610 | 2,550 | 27.16 | 1.25 |
| Missoula, MT | $39.50 | $82,160 | $71,440 | $104,490 | 1,570 | 23.34 | 1.07 |
| Great Falls, MT | $37.64 | $78,290 | $68,290 | $98,250 | 880 | 24.19 | 1.11 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $41.57 | $86,470 | $73,320 | $109,500 | 770 | 19.59 | 0.90 |
| East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $40.36 | $83,960 | $66,580 | $109,890 | 1,260 | 20.89 | 0.96 |
| West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $39.33 | $81,800 | $75,530 | $108,880 | 1,690 | 20.08 | 0.92 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $41.00 | $85,280 | 10,950 | 0.99 |
| Idaho | $44.45 | $92,460 | 16,880 | 0.91 |
| North Dakota | $38.81 | $80,730 | 11,340 | 1.21 |
| South Dakota | $37.53 | $78,060 | 14,710 | 1.48 |
| Wyoming | $40.27 | $83,760 | 5,330 | 0.87 |
See the national page for Registered Nurses (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.