SalaryExplorer

SOC 33-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

FirefightersEast-Central Montana

East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area · 5 metro areas compared

$47,770 /year
$22.97per hour
210jobs in area
19.4%vs US median

The median wage for Firefighters in East-Central Montana, MT is $47,770 per year, 19.4% below the national median of $59,280.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $59,28010TH$32,110MEDIAN$47,77090TH$61,180

Salary overview

The median wage for Firefighters in East-Central Montana, MT is $47,770 per year, 19.4% below the national median of $59,280. Pay ranges from under $32,110 at the tenth percentile to more than $61,180 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $47,770 to $59,340.

Employment stands at 210, or 3.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Bozeman leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $77,430. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 155th of 260 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$32,110−45.8%
25th$47,770−19.4%
Median (50th)$47,770−19.4%
75th$59,340+0.1%
90th$61,180+3.2%
Mean$50,680−14.5%

Other metro areas in Montana

Median annual wage for Firefighters, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Bozeman$77,430100
2Missoula$76,620130
3Billings$68,100130
4Great Falls$60,08070
5Helena$54,26080

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in East-Central Montana run 5.4% below the national average, so the median of $47,770 goes as far as $50,497 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.8% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$47,770as reported by BLS

Local price level

94.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$50,497US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $47,770 a year, 19.4% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $32,110 to $61,180 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 210 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Bozeman, at $77,430.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Firefighters in East-Central Montana, MT?

The median annual wage is $47,770, or $22.97 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.

Is that higher than the national average?

The national median for this occupation is $59,280, so pay in East-Central Montana, MT is 19.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.

What do the top earners make?

The top tenth of this occupation in East-Central Montana, MT earns more than $61,180 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $32,110 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.

Which area nearby pays the most?

The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Bozeman, at $77,430 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 210 jobs in this occupation in East-Central Montana, MT. Self-employed workers are not included.

Source and methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.

Firefighters Salary in East-Central Montana, MT (2025): $47,770 Median | Salary Explorer