What does a Computer Hardware Engineers salary really buy you in Montana?
Montana is 9.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.3, meaning prices are 9.7% lower the national average. A Computer Hardware Engineers earning $141,680 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $156,899 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) | $105,800 | $117,165 | +$11,365 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $116,490 | $129,003 | +$12,513 |
| Median (P50) | $141,680 | $156,899 | +$15,219 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $161,830 | $179,213 | +$17,383 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $183,500 | $203,211 | +$19,711 |
A Computer Hardware Engineers in Montana earns $141,680 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $156,899 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Computer Hardware Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #6 out of 43 states for Computer Hardware Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Computer Hardware Engineers in Montana earns a median salary of $141,680 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $156,899 — 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 Computer Hardware Engineers in Montana: $141,680 x (100 / 90.3) = $156,899. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Computer Hardware Engineers 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.