What does a Environmental 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 Environmental Engineers earning $96,320 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $106,666 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) | $61,860 | $68,504 | +$6,644 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $78,610 | $87,054 | +$8,444 |
| Median (P50) | $96,320 | $106,666 | +$10,346 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $121,050 | $134,053 | +$13,003 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $134,970 | $149,468 | +$14,498 |
A Environmental Engineers in Montana earns $96,320 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $106,666 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Environmental Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #18 out of 50 states for Environmental Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Environmental Engineers in Montana earns a median salary of $96,320 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $106,666 — 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 Environmental Engineers in Montana: $96,320 x (100 / 90.3) = $106,666. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Environmental 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.