What does a Chefs and Head Cooks salary really buy you in Montana?
Montana is 9.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.3, meaning prices are 9.7% lower the national average. A Chefs and Head Cooks earning $48,890 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $54,141 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) | $36,040 | $39,911 | +$3,871 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $39,790 | $44,064 | +$4,274 |
| Median (P50) | $48,890 | $54,141 | +$5,251 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $66,850 | $74,031 | +$7,181 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $69,640 | $77,120 | +$7,480 |
A Chefs and Head Cooks in Montana earns $48,890 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $54,141 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Chefs and Head Cooks salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #37 out of 51 states for Chefs and Head Cooks after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Chefs and Head Cooks take-home pay in Montana after taxes →
A Chefs and Head Cooks in Montana earns a median salary of $48,890 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $54,141 — 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 Chefs and Head Cooks in Montana: $48,890 x (100 / 90.3) = $54,141. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Chefs and Head Cooks 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.