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Rehabilitation Counselors Salary in Montana: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Rehabilitation Counselors salary really buy you in Montana?

Montana is 9.7% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$45,240
Median annual (2025)
+10.7%
Real Purchasing Power
$50,099
COL-adjusted (RPP=90.3)

Montana Cost of Living Index

Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.3, meaning prices are 9.7% lower the national average. A Rehabilitation Counselors earning $45,240 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $50,099 in an average-cost US state.

MT: 90.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

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) $37,410 $41,428 +$4,018
25th Percentile (P25) $39,080 $43,277 +$4,197
Median (P50) $45,240 $50,099 +$4,859
75th Percentile (P75) $58,000 $64,230 +$6,230
90th Percentile (P90) $59,900 $66,334 +$6,434
Key Insight

A Rehabilitation Counselors in Montana earns $45,240 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $50,099 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Montana Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 90.3

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 Rehabilitation Counselors, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Sizable COL Effect Reshapes This Salary

+10.7%

Adjusting $45,240 for Montana's cost of living yields $50,100 — 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.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#21 / 51

Montana sits at #21 of 51 states for Rehabilitation Counselors COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Rehabilitation Counselors (After Cost of Living)

Where does Rehabilitation Counselors salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Wyoming
$73,601
RPP 91.9
$71,082
RPP 88.7
$65,480
RPP 89.4
4. Alabama
$61,548
RPP 87.8
5. Alaska
$60,382
RPP 102.0
6. Idaho
$59,422
RPP 91.8
7. Georgia
$57,411
RPP 95.8
$56,079
RPP 88.0
$53,867
RPP 89.2
$53,010
RPP 91.0

Montana ranks #21 out of 51 states for Rehabilitation Counselors after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Rehabilitation Counselors take-home pay in Montana after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Rehabilitation Counselors in Montana after cost of living?

A Rehabilitation Counselors in Montana earns a median salary of $45,240 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $50,099 — a +10.7% difference.

Is Montana expensive to live in?

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).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Rehabilitation Counselors in Montana: $45,240 x (100 / 90.3) = $50,099. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Rehabilitation Counselors in Montana financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Rehabilitation Counselors 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.

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