What does a Plumber 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 Plumber earning $77,930 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $86,301 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) | $46,400 | $51,384 | +$4,984 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $57,360 | $63,521 | +$6,161 |
| Median (P50) | $77,930 | $86,301 | +$8,371 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $87,630 | $97,043 | +$9,413 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $93,960 | $104,053 | +$10,093 |
A Plumber in Montana earns $77,930 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $86,301 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Plumber salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #3 out of 50 states for Plumber after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Plumber in Montana earns a median salary of $77,930 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $86,301 — 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 Plumber in Montana: $77,930 x (100 / 90.3) = $86,301. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Plumber 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.