Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Montana

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

Cost of living: prices in Montana run 5.4% below the national average (2024), so a Montana salary is worth about 1.06× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Montana.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Montana

OccupationMedian, Montana · Real change since 2019

1Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers$27,910
No formal educational credential
$22,460 – $35,830-30.2%-12.1% nominal
2Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$50,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,870 – $72,480-27.9%-9.2% nominal
3Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$75,520
Bachelor's degree
$54,450 – $121,100-27.6%-8.8% nominal
4Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$38,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,570 – $53,330-25.8%-6.6% nominal
5Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$47,590
Bachelor's degree
$38,570 – $81,070-25.0%-5.6% nominal
6Credit Analysts$74,650
Bachelor's degree
$57,350 – $124,010-24.7%-5.2% nominal
7Glaziers$49,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,880 – $70,000-23.6%-3.8% nominal
8Driver/Sales Workers$27,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,060 – $58,690-21.5%-1.1% nominal
9Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$55,190
Bachelor's degree
$45,690 – $85,290-21.2%-0.8% nominal
10Drafters, All Other$63,200
Associate's degree
$47,610 – $83,490-20.4%+0.2% nominal
11Chemical Technicians$52,890
Associate's degree
$41,510 – $102,620-19.1%+1.9% nominal
12Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$93,470
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,760 – $130,710-18.5%+2.6% nominal
13Electrical Engineers$87,360
Bachelor's degree
$72,910 – $133,180-18.3%+2.8% nominal
14Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$41,850
Bachelor's degree
$31,200 – $67,010-18.1%+3.1% nominal
15Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation$37,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,600 – $51,700-17.4%+4.1% nominal
16Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,550
Bachelor's degree
$39,140 – $80,290-16.8%+4.7% nominal
17Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$55,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,510 – $78,350-16.5%+5.1% nominal
18Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$77,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,560 – $99,800-16.4%+5.3% nominal
19Conveyor Operators and Tenders$38,760
No formal educational credential
$37,240 – $57,200-16.1%+5.7% nominal
20Business Teachers, Postsecondary$81,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,890 – $199,660-16.0%+5.8% nominal
21Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$83,610
Bachelor's degree
$53,380 – $206,390-15.6%+6.3% nominal
22Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners$22,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,940 – $23,620-15.6%+6.3% nominal
23Industrial Machinery Mechanics$67,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,730 – $105,930-15.3%+6.7% nominal
24Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$98,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,760 – $108,160-14.6%+7.5% nominal
25Interior Designers$61,770
Bachelor's degree
$31,540 – $86,070-14.2%+8.0% nominal
26General and Operations Managers$91,380
Bachelor's degree
$48,890 – $187,260-14.1%+8.2% nominal
27Industrial Production Managers$120,690
Bachelor's degree
$79,990 – $182,400-13.5%+8.9% nominal
28Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$95,700
Master's degree
$63,960 – $127,800-12.9%+9.6% nominal
29Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$62,310
Bachelor's degree
$38,750 – $82,460-12.7%+9.9% nominal
30Industrial Engineers$104,430
Bachelor's degree
$76,920 – $175,660-12.6%+10.0% nominal
31Compliance Officers$66,660
Bachelor's degree
$50,350 – $109,300-12.5%+10.2% nominal
32Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$101,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,810 – $167,470-12.4%+10.4% nominal
33Training and Development Specialists$62,880
Bachelor's degree
$35,970 – $99,750-12.4%+10.3% nominal
34Speech-Language Pathologists$78,740
Master's degree
$58,460 – $106,330-12.3%+10.5% nominal
35Sales Managers$117,390
Bachelor's degree
$81,030 – $205,760-12.2%+10.6% nominal
36Producers and Directors$52,580
Bachelor's degree
$32,570 – $98,820-12.2%+10.6% nominal
37Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$64,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,100 – $97,200-12.1%+10.7% nominal
38Dentists, General$167,200
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,710 – $230,580-12.0%+10.9% nominal
39Detectives and Criminal Investigators$92,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,670 – $144,000-11.8%+11.1% nominal
40Logisticians$81,270
Bachelor's degree
$57,260 – $117,650-11.5%+11.5% nominal
41First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,670 – $91,510-11.4%+11.6% nominal
42First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$77,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,150 – $128,850-11.0%+12.0% nominal
43Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$48,100
No formal educational credential
$36,990 – $83,340-11.0%+12.1% nominal
44Transportation Inspectors$62,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $124,850-11.0%+12.1% nominal
45Computer Network Support Specialists$61,150
Associate's degree
$49,520 – $93,270-10.9%+12.2% nominal
46Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$41,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,320 – $64,940-10.5%+12.7% nominal
47Firefighters$59,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,810 – $76,620-10.4%+12.9% nominal
48Conservation Scientists$73,920
Bachelor's degree
$48,660 – $106,330-10.1%+13.2% nominal
49Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$65,190
Bachelor's degree
$38,910 – $97,070-10.0%+13.4% nominal
50Locomotive Engineers$90,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,460 – $126,950-9.6%+13.9% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianMontana	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Gambling Change Persons and Booth CashiersNo formal educational credential	$27,910	$22,460 – $35,830	-30.2%-12.1% nominal
2	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,800	$35,870 – $72,480	-27.9%-9.2% nominal
3	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersBachelor's degree	$75,520	$54,450 – $121,100	-27.6%-8.8% nominal
4	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,410	$34,570 – $53,330	-25.8%-6.6% nominal
5	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$47,590	$38,570 – $81,070	-25.0%-5.6% nominal
6	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$74,650	$57,350 – $124,010	-24.7%-5.2% nominal
7	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,360	$34,880 – $70,000	-23.6%-3.8% nominal
8	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,580	$22,060 – $58,690	-21.5%-1.1% nominal
9	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$55,190	$45,690 – $85,290	-21.2%-0.8% nominal
10	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$63,200	$47,610 – $83,490	-20.4%+0.2% nominal
11	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$52,890	$41,510 – $102,620	-19.1%+1.9% nominal
12	Agricultural Sciences Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$93,470	$62,760 – $130,710	-18.5%+2.6% nominal
13	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$87,360	$72,910 – $133,180	-18.3%+2.8% nominal
14	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$41,850	$31,200 – $67,010	-18.1%+3.1% nominal
15	Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, VegetationHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,760	$31,600 – $51,700	-17.4%+4.1% nominal
16	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$61,550	$39,140 – $80,290	-16.8%+4.7% nominal
17	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,920	$36,510 – $78,350	-16.5%+5.1% nominal
18	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$77,980	$48,560 – $99,800	-16.4%+5.3% nominal
19	Conveyor Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$38,760	$37,240 – $57,200	-16.1%+5.7% nominal
20	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$81,490	$50,890 – $199,660	-16.0%+5.8% nominal
21	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$83,610	$53,380 – $206,390	-15.6%+6.3% nominal
22	Gambling and Sports Book Writers and RunnersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$22,030	$21,940 – $23,620	-15.6%+6.3% nominal
23	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,250	$48,730 – $105,930	-15.3%+6.7% nominal
24	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,310	$75,760 – $108,160	-14.6%+7.5% nominal
25	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$61,770	$31,540 – $86,070	-14.2%+8.0% nominal
26	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$91,380	$48,890 – $187,260	-14.1%+8.2% nominal
27	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$120,690	$79,990 – $182,400	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
28	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$95,700	$63,960 – $127,800	-12.9%+9.6% nominal
29	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$62,310	$38,750 – $82,460	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
30	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,430	$76,920 – $175,660	-12.6%+10.0% nominal
31	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$66,660	$50,350 – $109,300	-12.5%+10.2% nominal
32	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$101,170	$62,810 – $167,470	-12.4%+10.4% nominal
33	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$62,880	$35,970 – $99,750	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
34	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$78,740	$58,460 – $106,330	-12.3%+10.5% nominal
35	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$117,390	$81,030 – $205,760	-12.2%+10.6% nominal
36	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$52,580	$32,570 – $98,820	-12.2%+10.6% nominal
37	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,170	$47,100 – $97,200	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
38	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$167,200	$63,710 – $230,580	-12.0%+10.9% nominal
39	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,410	$58,670 – $144,000	-11.8%+11.1% nominal
40	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$81,270	$57,260 – $117,650	-11.5%+11.5% nominal
41	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,670	$44,670 – $91,510	-11.4%+11.6% nominal
42	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,030	$50,150 – $128,850	-11.0%+12.0% nominal
43	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$48,100	$36,990 – $83,340	-11.0%+12.1% nominal
44	Transportation InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,810	$37,860 – $124,850	-11.0%+12.1% nominal
45	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$61,150	$49,520 – $93,270	-10.9%+12.2% nominal
46	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,410	$35,320 – $64,940	-10.5%+12.7% nominal
47	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,310	$32,810 – $76,620	-10.4%+12.9% nominal
48	Conservation ScientistsBachelor's degree	$73,920	$48,660 – $106,330	-10.1%+13.2% nominal
49	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$65,190	$38,910 – $97,070	-10.0%+13.4% nominal
50	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,220	$80,460 – $126,950	-9.6%+13.9% nominal

More for Montana

Metro areas in Montana

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Montana

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Montana to rank honestly.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Montana

More for Montana

Metro areas in Montana

By field in Montana

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state