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Residential Advisors Salary in Montana: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Residential Advisors 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
$47,230
Median annual (2025)
+10.7%
Real Purchasing Power
$52,303
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 Residential Advisors earning $47,230 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $52,303 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) $38,460 $42,591 +$4,131
25th Percentile (P25) $44,650 $49,446 +$4,796
Median (P50) $47,230 $52,303 +$5,073
75th Percentile (P75) $53,260 $58,981 +$5,721
90th Percentile (P90) $58,950 $65,282 +$6,332
Key Insight

A Residential Advisors in Montana earns $47,230 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $52,303 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 Residential Advisors, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Sizable COL Effect Reshapes This Salary

+10.7%

Adjusting $47,230 for Montana's cost of living yields $52,303 — 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.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Montana

#2 / 51

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Residential Advisors, Montana places #2 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Residential Advisors (After Cost of Living)

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

$54,780
RPP 88.7
2. Montana
$52,303
RPP 90.3
$51,202
RPP 89.8
$49,918
RPP 97.7
$45,548
RPP 107.6
6. Alaska
$45,274
RPP 102.0
$45,167
RPP 92.3
$44,962
RPP 107.6
$44,714
RPP 105.0
$44,298
RPP 109.8

Montana ranks #2 out of 51 states for Residential Advisors after cost-of-living adjustment.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Residential Advisors in Montana after cost of living?

A Residential Advisors in Montana earns a median salary of $47,230 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $52,303 — 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 Residential Advisors in Montana: $47,230 x (100 / 90.3) = $52,303. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Residential Advisors in Montana financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Residential Advisors 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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