What does a Health Education Specialists 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 Health Education Specialists earning $52,030 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $57,619 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) | $40,300 | $44,629 | +$4,329 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $46,270 | $51,240 | +$4,970 |
| Median (P50) | $52,030 | $57,619 | +$5,589 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $62,400 | $69,102 | +$6,702 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $81,340 | $90,077 | +$8,737 |
A Health Education Specialists in Montana earns $52,030 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $57,619 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Health Education Specialists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #43 out of 50 states for Health Education Specialists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Health Education Specialists in Montana earns a median salary of $52,030 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $57,619 — 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 Health Education Specialists in Montana: $52,030 x (100 / 90.3) = $57,619. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Health Education Specialists 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.