SOC 19-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physicists — Montana
Montana
At $103,800, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Physicists, 39.7% beneath the national figure of $172,250.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $103,800, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Physicists, 39.7% beneath the national figure of $172,250. Pay ranges from under $53,500 at the tenth percentile to more than $237,520 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $74,710 to $139,140.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.51 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Montana ranks number 40th out of 43 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 604 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 48th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,500 | −68.9% |
| 25th | $74,710 | −56.6% |
| Median (50th) | $103,800 | −39.7% |
| 75th | $139,140 | −19.2% |
| 90th | $237,520 | +37.9% |
| Mean | $125,680 | −27.0% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Montana run 5.4% below the national average, so the median of $103,800 goes as far as $109,725 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 36.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$103,800as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$109,725US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $103,800 a year, 39.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $53,500 to $237,520 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 40th of 43 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physicists in Montana?
The median annual wage is $103,800, or $49.90 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 $172,250, so pay in Montana is 39.7% 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 Montana earns more than $237,520 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $53,500 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 30 jobs in this occupation in Montana. 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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