What does a Optometrists 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 Optometrists earning $108,600 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $120,265 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) | $57,920 | $64,141 | +$6,221 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $75,270 | $83,355 | +$8,085 |
| Median (P50) | $108,600 | $120,265 | +$11,665 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $131,010 | $145,083 | +$14,073 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $166,440 | $184,318 | +$17,878 |
A Optometrists in Montana earns $108,600 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $120,265 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Optometrists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #44 out of 49 states for Optometrists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Optometrists in Montana earns a median salary of $108,600 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $120,265 — 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 Optometrists in Montana: $108,600 x (100 / 90.3) = $120,265. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Optometrists 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.