Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Montana
In Montana, waiters and waitresses earn a median $23,370 a year, well below the national median of $35,230 (−34%); the state ranks 44th of 51 states by median. That is 52% less than the median across all occupations in Montana ($48,740). Every neighbouring state pays more: North Dakota, Idaho, South Dakota and Wyoming range from $23,920 in Wyoming to $30,890 in North Dakota. Montana employs 7,200 waiters and waitresses, 14.1 per 1,000 jobs, the 47th 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 | $10.55 | $10.72 | $11.23 | $13.92 | $21.84 | $14.03 | 7,200 | 14.08 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $21,940 | $22,290 | $23,370 | $28,960 | $45,420 | $29,180 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $8.70 | $13.34 | $16.94 | $22.65 | $31.12 | $19.26 | 2,270,910 | – | – |
| Annual | $18,100 | $27,750 | $35,230 | $47,110 | $64,720 | $40,060 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 44th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 47th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.96
- Jobs per 1,000
- 14.08
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 waiters and waitresses, 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 | $12.68 | $26,380 | $22,910 | $51,150 | 1,200 | 16.56 | 1.13 |
| Missoula, MT | $11.16 | $23,210 | $21,940 | $41,890 | 930 | 13.88 | 0.95 |
| Helena, MT | $11.07 | $23,020 | $21,940 | $45,420 | 520 | 11.69 | 0.80 |
| Billings, MT | $11.03 | $22,940 | $22,010 | $47,730 | 1,320 | 14.04 | 0.96 |
| Great Falls, MT | $10.71 | $22,270 | $21,940 | $43,980 | 450 | 12.26 | 0.84 |
| West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $11.11 | $23,120 | $21,940 | $45,750 | 1,310 | 15.51 | 1.06 |
| East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $11.00 | $22,880 | $21,940 | $44,590 | 710 | 11.85 | 0.81 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $10.94 | $22,760 | $21,940 | $44,590 | 750 | 19.25 | 1.32 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $11.23 | $23,370 | 7,200 | 0.96 |
| Idaho | $14.45 | $30,050 | 10,950 | 0.87 |
| North Dakota | $14.85 | $30,890 | 5,250 | 0.84 |
| South Dakota | $13.94 | $28,990 | 7,350 | 1.10 |
| Wyoming | $11.50 | $23,920 | 3,620 | 0.88 |
See the national page for Waiters and Waitresses (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.