Nurse Practitioner Pay

Nurse Practitioner Salary in Montana: $139,808 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Montana's 7 metropolitan areas, the average median nurse practitioner pay sits at $139,808/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1171. Because Montana sits at BEA RPP 96.2 (4% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $145,331 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Bozeman ($139,990), Billings ($139,050), Helena ($136,420).

Nurse Practitioner Salary in Montana - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Montana nurse practitioner salary overview (2026)
$139,808
Avg Median Salary
$67.22
Avg Hourly Rate
671
Metro Employed
7
Cities

In 2026, nurse practitioners in Montana are projected to earn an average median salary of $139,809, which is slightly above the national median of $136,864, representing a 2.2% increase. The highest salaries are found in Bozeman at $144,820, while Kalispell offers the lowest at $134,755, creating a notable salary gap of $10,065. This difference is largely driven by local cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and the concentration of specialized medical facilities in urban areas like Bozeman. Montana's nurse practitioners operate under specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that permit them to diagnose and treat patients independently, which contributes to their essential role in the healthcare system. Current data indicates a solid job market with a projected annual growth rate of 3.45%, suggesting that the demand for nurse practitioners will continue to rise, fueled by an aging population and a focus on accessible healthcare in rural communities. With a total employment of 671 nurse practitioners across the state, cities such as Billings ($143,847), Helena ($141,126), and Butte ($137,150) also offer competitive salaries. This indicates a positive outlook for those entering the field in various metropolitan areas in Montana.

Montana Nurse Practitioner Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$109,853
avg across 7 cities
Median
$139,808
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$167,449
avg across 7 cities

Overall salary range in Montana: $99,353 (lowest entry-level) to $179,444 (highest top earner)

Montana vs National Average

Montana
$139,808
National Median
$136,864

Montana nurse practitioners earn 2.15% more than the national median (+$2,944/year difference).

Montana Nurse Practitioner Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Montana nurse practitioner salary percentiles: 10th percentile $109,853, 25th $128,349, Median $139,808, 75th $149,027, 90th $167,449. US national median is $136,864.$46.9K$93.8K$140.7K$187.5K$109.9K10thEntry Level$128.3K25thEarly Career$139.8KMedianMid Career$149.0K75thExperienced$167.4K90thTop EarnerUS Median $136.9K

Nurse Practitioner salaries in Montana range from $109,853 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $167,449 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $139,808. The Montana median is $2,944 above the US national median of $136,864. The average hourly rate is $67.22/hr. Approximately 671 nurse practitioners are employed across 7 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$109,085

2025 BLS Actual

$135,146

2026 Current Est.

$139,808

2019–2027 Growth

+32.6%

Salary Trajectory for Nurse Practitioners in Montana (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.45% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for nurse practitioners in Montana. Baseline $109,085 in 2025, projected to $144,632 by 2027.$102.0K$114.4K$126.9K$139.3K$151.7K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$109.1K$114.5K$115.6K$120.6K$125.9K$130.3K$135.1K$139.8K$144.6K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$109,085Actual
2020$114,531Actual
2021$115,600Actual
2022$120,596Actual
2023$125,930Actual
2024$130,286Actual
2025$135,146Actual
2026(current)$139,808Estimated
2027$144,632Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Montana metropolitan area, the median nurse practitioner salary grew 23.9% from $109,085 (2019) to $135,146 (2025). At a 3.45% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $144,632 by 2027 — a total increase of $35,547 (32.59%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Montana metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.45% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Montana

#1
Bozeman
100 employed · $69.62/hr
$144,820
+3.58% vs avg
#2
Billings
160 employed · $69.16/hr
$143,847
+2.89% vs avg
#3
Helena
110 employed · $67.85/hr
$141,126
+0.94% vs avg
#4
Butte
7 employed · $65.94/hr
$137,150
-1.90% vs avg
#5
Missoula
140 employed · $65.47/hr
$136,192
-2.59% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Montana

CityMedian Salary
Kalispell$134,755
Great Falls$134,826
Missoula$136,192
Butte$137,150
Helena$141,126

Best Value Cities for Nurse Practitioners in Montana

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Montana cities offer the most purchasing power for nurse practitioners.

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Billings$143,84793.526$153,804
Helena$141,12695.675$147,506
Butte$137,15096.2$142,568
Bozeman$144,820102.51$141,274
Missoula$136,19296.445$141,212

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Montana

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$109,853
Mid Career (3-7 years)$139,808
Experienced (7+ years)$167,449

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Montana metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 7 Cities in Montana

#CityMedian Salary
1Bozeman$144,820
2Billings$143,847
3Helena$141,126
4Butte$137,150
5Missoula$136,192
6Great Falls$134,826
7Kalispell$134,755

More Montana Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore nurse practitioner hourly pay in Montana cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new nurse practitioners.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced nurse practitioners.

Explore More Nurse Practitioner Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do nurse practitioners make in Montana in 2026?

The average median nurse practitioner salary in Montana is $139,808/year across 7 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $134,755 in Kalispell to $144,820 in Bozeman. This makes Montana one of the higher-paying states, at 2.15% above the national median of $136,864. The state employs approximately 671 nurse practitioners.

What is the highest paying city for nurse practitioners in Montana?

Bozeman offers the highest nurse practitioner salary in Montana at $144,820/year ($69.62/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Bozeman ($144,820), Billings ($143,847), Helena ($141,126). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for advanced practice nursing services, and competition among employers for licensed nurse practitioners.

How does Montana nurse practitioner pay compare to the national average?

Montana's average nurse practitioner salary of $139,808 is 2.15% above the national median of $136,864 in 2026. The state employs approximately 671 nurse practitioners across 7 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level nurse practitioner salary in Montana?

Entry-level nurse practitioners (10th percentile) in Montana earn approximately $109,853/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $99,353 in lower-paying areas to $118,233 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many nurse practitioners are employed in Montana?

Montana employs approximately 671 nurse practitioners across 7 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. The smaller workforce means positions may be less competitive but also fewer in number. Demand continues to grow as the advanced practice nursing field expands and the population ages.

Which Montana city offers the best value for nurse practitioners?

When adjusted for cost of living, Billings offers the highest purchasing power for nurse practitioners in Montana, with an adjusted salary of $153,804 (nominal: $143,847, CoL index: 93.526). This means your dollar goes 7% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience in adult healthcare. She works in a community health clinic. Her specialty is chronic disease management.

Clinically reviewed by James Patel, DNP, APRNData verified by Aisha Khan, MSN, FNP-BC

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.45% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 nurse practitioner compensation across Montana. State averages are employment-weighted across 7 metro areas — larger metro areas with more nurse practitionerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.45%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171).

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C, a licensed nurse practitioner with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

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