Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Fish and Game Wardens actually take home in Montana?
Progressive (up to 5.9%) — 21.8% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Fish and Game Wardens earning $59,490 in Montana (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $59,490 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$5,154 | 8.7% |
| Montana State Income Tax | -$3,263 | 5.5% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,688 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$862 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$12,969 | 21.8% |
| Take-Home Pay | $46,520 | 78.2% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Fish and Game Wardens in Montana.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $56,030 | -$12,085 | $43,944 | 21.6% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $57,300 | -$12,410 | $44,889 | 21.7% |
| Median (P50) | $59,490 | -$12,969 | $46,520 | 21.8% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $61,470 | -$13,475 | $47,994 | 21.9% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $73,550 | -$17,742 | $55,807 | 24.1% |
After federal income tax ($5,154), state tax ($3,263), and FICA ($4,550), a Fish and Game Wardens in Montana takes home $46,520 per year — or $3,876 per month. The effective tax rate of 21.8% is relatively low compared to the national range.
With an effective total rate of 21.8%, a Fish and Game Wardens in Montana keeps $46,520 of $59,490 gross — roughly typical for U.S. middle-income earners once federal, FICA and state taxes are combined.
Montana uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Fish and Game Wardens salary the state tax works out to $3,264 (5.5% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Fish and Game Wardens salary is $5,155 (40%), but combined state ($3,264, 25%) + FICA ($4,551, 35%) make up the other 60% of the bill.
Moving this same Fish and Game Wardens salary to a zero-state-tax state would yield around $49,784 net — a gain of $3,264 (7.0%) per year versus Montana.
Montana sits near the bottom (#32 of 35) for Fish and Game Wardens after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $46,520 net/year works out to $3,877/month or $1,789/bi-weekly for this Fish and Game Wardens in Montana — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Fish and Game Wardens keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Montana ranks #32 out of 35 states for Fish and Game Wardens after-tax take-home pay.
A Fish and Game Wardens in Montana earning a median salary of $59,490 will take home approximately $46,520 per year after federal income tax ($5,154), state income tax ($3,263), and FICA ($4,550). That is $3,876 per month or $1,789 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Fish and Game Wardens in Montana is 21.8%, broken down as: federal income tax 8.7%, Montana state tax 5.5%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.7%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Montana has a progressive (up to 5.9%). On a Fish and Game Wardens's median salary of $59,490, the state income tax amounts to $3,263 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.5%.
After all taxes, a Fish and Game Wardens in Montana takes home approximately $3,876 per month, or about $22.37 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $59,490 for Fish and Game Wardens in Montana, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Montana state income tax (progressive (up to 5.9%)), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $46,520/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR