What does a Medical Assistants salary really buy you in Montana?
Montana is 9.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.3, meaning prices are 9.7% lower the national average. A Medical Assistants earning $44,040 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $48,770 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) | $35,070 | $38,837 | +$3,767 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $38,910 | $43,089 | +$4,179 |
| Median (P50) | $44,040 | $48,770 | +$4,730 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $46,130 | $51,085 | +$4,955 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $49,670 | $55,005 | +$5,335 |
A Medical Assistants in Montana earns $44,040 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $48,770 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Medical Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #4 out of 51 states for Medical Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Medical Assistants take-home pay in Montana after taxes →
A Medical Assistants in Montana earns a median salary of $44,040 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $48,770 — 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 Medical Assistants in Montana: $44,040 x (100 / 90.3) = $48,770. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Medical Assistants 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.