Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Materials Engineers salary really buy you in Montana?
Montana is 9.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.3, meaning prices are 9.7% lower the national average. A Materials Engineers earning $76,030 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $84,197 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) | $59,860 | $66,290 | +$6,430 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $63,500 | $70,321 | +$6,821 |
| Median (P50) | $76,030 | $84,197 | +$8,167 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $93,560 | $103,610 | +$10,050 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $104,480 | $115,703 | +$11,223 |
A Materials Engineers in Montana earns $76,030 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $84,197 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 90.3 means a basket of goods and services costs about 9.7% less than the national average. For a Materials Engineers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $76,030 for Montana's cost of living yields $84,197 — a 10.7% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Montana ranks #43 of 45 — bottom quartile for Materials Engineers real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Materials Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #43 out of 45 states for Materials Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Materials Engineers take-home pay in Montana after taxes →
A Materials Engineers in Montana earns a median salary of $76,030 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $84,197 — 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 Materials Engineers in Montana: $76,030 x (100 / 90.3) = $84,197. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Materials 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.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.