Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Animal Trainers salary really buy you in Montana?
Montana is 9.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.3, meaning prices are 9.7% lower the national average. A Animal Trainers earning $44,680 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $49,479 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Montana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $33,060 | $36,611 | +$3,551 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $36,010 | $39,878 | +$3,868 |
| Median (P50) | $44,680 | $49,479 | +$4,799 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $50,840 | $56,301 | +$5,461 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $57,860 | $64,075 | +$6,215 |
A Animal Trainers in Montana earns $44,680 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $49,479 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 90.3 means a basket of goods and services costs about 9.7% less than the national average. For a Animal Trainers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $44,680 for Montana's cost of living yields $49,480 — a 10.7% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Animal Trainers, Montana places #4 of 47 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Animal Trainers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #4 out of 47 states for Animal Trainers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Animal Trainers take-home pay in Montana after taxes →
A Animal Trainers in Montana earns a median salary of $44,680 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $49,479 — a +10.7% difference.
Montana's cost of living is 9.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Montana is 90.3 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Animal Trainers in Montana: $44,680 x (100 / 90.3) = $49,479. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Animal Trainers in Montana enjoys 10.7% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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