What does a Truck Driver 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 Truck Driver earning $59,060 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $65,404 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) | $45,450 | $50,332 | +$4,882 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $50,440 | $55,858 | +$5,418 |
| Median (P50) | $59,060 | $65,404 | +$6,344 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $63,510 | $70,332 | +$6,822 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $73,700 | $81,616 | +$7,916 |
A Truck Driver in Montana earns $59,060 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $65,404 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Truck Driver salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #4 out of 50 states for Truck Driver after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Truck Driver in Montana earns a median salary of $59,060 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $65,404 — 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 Truck Driver in Montana: $59,060 x (100 / 90.3) = $65,404. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Truck Driver 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.