Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Helena, MT

Each occupation's median wage in Helena, MT compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Helena, MT pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Helena, MT run 4.3% below the national average (2024), so a Helena, MT salary is worth about 1.05× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Helena, MT

OccupationMedian, Helena, MT · vs. national

1Family Medicine Physicians$375,340
Doctoral or professional degree
$210,130 – $467,270+53.7%
2Real Estate Sales Agents$79,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,740 – $133,850+49.7%
3Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$46,610
No formal educational credential
$32,840 – $61,500+30.7%
4Industrial Machinery Mechanics$81,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,560 – $110,430+26.0%
5Electricians$78,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,560 – $82,350+24.6%
6Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$60,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,610 – $84,920+24.1%
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$80,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,000 – $106,970+22.1%
8Painters, Construction and Maintenance$60,110
No formal educational credential
$35,370 – $72,110+21.7%
9Data Entry Keyers$49,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,790 – $61,130+20.6%
10Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$53,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,170 – $80,120+20.3%
11Highway Maintenance Workers$60,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,000 – $63,710+19.4%
12Physicians, All Other$316,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$232,190 – $433,900+19.0%
13Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$74,840
Bachelor's degree
$39,880 – $102,340+18.9%
14Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,890
Associate's degree
$49,650 – $78,900+18.4%
15Bus Drivers, School$56,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,460 – $57,870+18.4%
16Tour and Travel Guides$45,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,830 – $47,790+18.4%
17Architectural and Civil Drafters$77,320
Associate's degree
$51,530 – $97,130+16.9%
18Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$45,640
No formal educational credential
$35,360 – $57,850+16.6%
19Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$57,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,120 – $95,320+16.3%
20Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$57,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,430 – $77,450+14.2%
21Administrative Services Managers$129,670
Bachelor's degree
$88,560 – $193,060+13.6%
22Coaches and Scouts$52,510
Bachelor's degree
$27,440 – $79,860+11.0%
23Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists$84,230
Bachelor's degree
$66,080 – $86,530+9.7%
24Pharmacy Technicians$49,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,030 – $71,030+9.1%
25Construction and Building Inspectors$80,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,510 – $80,830+8.2%
26Tax Preparers$59,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,470 – $84,340+7.7%
27Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$70,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,820 – $82,950+7.4%
28Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$69,040
Master's degree
$37,100 – $88,190+7.3%
29Psychiatric Aides$47,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,570 – $58,560+6.7%
30Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$38,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,550 – $83,870+6.6%
31Stockers and Order Fillers$39,760
No formal educational credential
$31,270 – $46,480+6.5%
32Cost Estimators$83,760
Bachelor's degree
$50,840 – $108,450+6.4%
33Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$63,060
Master's degree
$35,260 – $83,290+6.3%
34Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$52,800
No formal educational credential
$35,770 – $60,730+6.3%
35Cashiers$34,750
No formal educational credential
$24,310 – $39,400+5.7%
36Light Truck Drivers$47,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,450 – $95,560+5.6%
37Industrial Production Managers$133,010
Bachelor's degree
$91,690 – $172,850+5.5%
38Surveyors$79,230
Bachelor's degree
$39,040 – $117,780+5.0%
39Parts Salespersons$40,520
No formal educational credential
$29,490 – $53,670+4.9%
40First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$50,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,770 – $74,250+4.8%
41Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,520 – $80,280+4.5%
42Biological Scientists, All Other$103,380
Bachelor's degree
$73,920 – $104,620+4.5%
43Social and Community Service Managers$84,040
Bachelor's degree
$58,920 – $123,560+4.5%
44Bill and Account Collectors$49,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,870 – $60,860+4.3%
45Customer Service Representatives$46,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,230 – $62,590+4.3%
46Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$37,210
No formal educational credential
$30,390 – $46,200+4.3%
47Tutors$45,210
Some college, no degree
$31,700 – $54,920+4.3%
48Pharmacists$146,400
Doctoral or professional degree
$124,600 – $166,280+3.9%
49Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,260
No formal educational credential
$49,070 – $77,160+3.9%
50Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$81,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,330 – $103,380+3.9%

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

#	Occupation	MedianHelena, MT	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$375,340	$210,130 – $467,270	+53.7%
2	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,100	$57,740 – $133,850	+49.7%
3	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$46,610	$32,840 – $61,500	+30.7%
4	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,290	$59,560 – $110,430	+26.0%
5	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,760	$49,560 – $82,350	+24.6%
6	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,290	$37,610 – $84,920	+24.1%
7	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,300	$52,000 – $106,970	+22.1%
8	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$60,110	$35,370 – $72,110	+21.7%
9	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,850	$37,790 – $61,130	+20.6%
10	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,710	$32,170 – $80,120	+20.3%
11	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,000	$60,000 – $63,710	+19.4%
12	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$316,530	$232,190 – $433,900	+19.0%
13	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$74,840	$39,880 – $102,340	+18.9%
14	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,890	$49,650 – $78,900	+18.4%
15	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,760	$39,460 – $57,870	+18.4%
16	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,140	$25,830 – $47,790	+18.4%
17	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$77,320	$51,530 – $97,130	+16.9%
18	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$45,640	$35,360 – $57,850	+16.6%
19	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,260	$48,120 – $95,320	+16.3%
20	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,820	$38,430 – $77,450	+14.2%
21	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$129,670	$88,560 – $193,060	+13.6%
22	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$52,510	$27,440 – $79,860	+11.0%
23	Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsBachelor's degree	$84,230	$66,080 – $86,530	+9.7%
24	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,910	$39,030 – $71,030	+9.1%
25	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,830	$52,510 – $80,830	+8.2%
26	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,170	$47,470 – $84,340	+7.7%
27	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,340	$59,820 – $82,950	+7.4%
28	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$69,040	$37,100 – $88,190	+7.3%
29	Psychiatric AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,930	$33,570 – $58,560	+6.7%
30	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,160	$22,550 – $83,870	+6.6%
31	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$39,760	$31,270 – $46,480	+6.5%
32	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$83,760	$50,840 – $108,450	+6.4%
33	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$63,060	$35,260 – $83,290	+6.3%
34	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$52,800	$35,770 – $60,730	+6.3%
35	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$34,750	$24,310 – $39,400	+5.7%
36	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,380	$33,450 – $95,560	+5.6%
37	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$133,010	$91,690 – $172,850	+5.5%
38	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$79,230	$39,040 – $117,780	+5.0%
39	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$40,520	$29,490 – $53,670	+4.9%
40	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,920	$37,770 – $74,250	+4.8%
41	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,570	$47,520 – $80,280	+4.5%
42	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,380	$73,920 – $104,620	+4.5%
43	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$84,040	$58,920 – $123,560	+4.5%
44	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,050	$37,870 – $60,860	+4.3%
45	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,680	$37,230 – $62,590	+4.3%
46	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$37,210	$30,390 – $46,200	+4.3%
47	TutorsSome college, no degree	$45,210	$31,700 – $54,920	+4.3%
48	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$146,400	$124,600 – $166,280	+3.9%
49	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,260	$49,070 – $77,160	+3.9%
50	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,080	$58,330 – $103,380	+3.9%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Helena, MT

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