SOC 19-2043 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Hydrologists — Helena
Helena, MT
In Helena, MT the median wage is $86,260.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Helena, MT the median wage is $86,260. That is 10.7% lower than the national median of $96,600. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $84,500 and $104,540. The lowest tenth earn under $72,450, while the highest tenth earn more than $115,210.
Employment stands at 50, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 39th of 241 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $72,450 | −25.0% |
| 25th | $84,500 | −12.5% |
| Median (50th) | $86,260 | −10.7% |
| 75th | $104,540 | +8.2% |
| 90th | $115,210 | +19.3% |
| Mean | $92,390 | −4.4% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Helena run 5.4% below the national average, so the median of $86,260 goes as far as $91,184 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$86,260as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$91,184US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $86,260 a year, 10.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $72,450 to $115,210 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Hydrologists in Helena, MT?
The median annual wage is $86,260, or $41.47 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 $96,600, so pay in Helena, MT is 10.7% 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 Helena, MT earns more than $115,210 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $72,450 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Helena, 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.
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