What does a Pharmacy Aides 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 Pharmacy Aides earning $35,440 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $39,246 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) | $28,510 | $31,572 | +$3,062 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $33,770 | $37,397 | +$3,627 |
| Median (P50) | $35,440 | $39,246 | +$3,806 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $37,000 | $40,974 | +$3,974 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $44,070 | $48,803 | +$4,733 |
A Pharmacy Aides in Montana earns $35,440 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $39,246 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Pharmacy Aides salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #11 out of 48 states for Pharmacy Aides after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Pharmacy Aides in Montana earns a median salary of $35,440 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $39,246 — 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 Pharmacy Aides in Montana: $35,440 x (100 / 90.3) = $39,246. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Pharmacy Aides 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.