What does a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining 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 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining earning $64,740 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $71,694 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) | $46,490 | $51,483 | +$4,993 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $50,630 | $56,068 | +$5,438 |
| Median (P50) | $64,740 | $71,694 | +$6,954 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $79,390 | $87,918 | +$8,528 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $90,530 | $100,254 | +$9,724 |
A Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Montana earns $64,740 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $71,694 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #7 out of 48 states for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Montana earns a median salary of $64,740 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $71,694 — 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 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Montana: $64,740 x (100 / 90.3) = $71,694. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining 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.