Environmental Scientist Salary in Montana
Based on 570+ workers in Montana
Data year: 2025 · Last updated: October 2026
Median Annual Salary (MT)
$80,260
$38.59/hr
vs National Average
$80,042
+0.3% vs national median
Salary Range (10th–90th)
$64K – $125K
570 employed in Montana
Salary Distribution — Environmental Scientist in Montana
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $64,290 |
| 25th percentile | $66,300 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $80,260 |
| 75th percentile | $93,140 |
| 90th percentile | $124,800 |
Top-Paying Industries for Environmental Scientist (U.S.)
Which industries pay Environmental Scientists the most — nationwide figures (industry-level data is not available by state). Environmental Scientists in Montana tend to follow these industry patterns.
| Industry (U.S.) | Median Salary | Employed (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Insurance | $134,100 | 110 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $122,660 | 210 |
| Manufacturing | $120,930 | 1K |
| Utilities | $115,170 | 1K |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $110,020 | 1K |
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS National Industry-Specific estimates, May 2025. National figures (not state-specific).
Historical Salary Trend — Environmental Scientist in Montana vs National
| Year | Median Salary (Montana) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $79,510 |
| 2023 | $78,480 |
| 2024 | $78,510 |
| 2025 | $80,260 |
| 2026 (projected) | $82,049 |
The latest year is a projection based on recent wage trends — BLS has not yet released that year’s data.
| Year | Montana Median | National Median |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $79,510 | $70,215 |
| 2023 | $78,480 | $74,160 |
| 2024 | $78,510 | $77,423 |
| 2025 | $80,260 | $80,042 |
| 2026 (projected) | $82,049 | $81,826 |
Environmental Scientist Salary by Experience Level in Montana
| Experience Level | Years | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | 0-2 yrs | $66,300 |
| Mid-level | 3-5 yrs | $80,260 |
| Senior | 6-9 yrs | $93,140 |
| Staff / Lead | 10+ yrs | $124,800 |
Environmental Scientist Salary in Other States
Related Environmental Scientist Salaries in Montana
How other high-demand occupations in Montana compare to Environmental Scientist ($80,260 median).
| Occupation | Median Salary | vs Environmental Scientist | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physicist in MT | $103,800 | +29.3% | $49.90/hr |
| Medical Scientist in MT | $101,950 | +27.0% | $49.01/hr |
| Urban and Regional Planner in MT | $80,770 | +0.6% | $38.83/hr |
| Geoscientist in MT | $75,520 | -5.9% | $36.31/hr |
| Psychologist in MT | $68,160 | -15.1% | $32.77/hr |
| Chemist in MT | $61,890 | -22.9% | $29.75/hr |
| Operations Research Analyst in MT | $80,400 | +0.2% | $38.65/hr |
| Plumber in MT | $79,960 | -0.4% | $38.44/hr |
| Budget Analyst in MT | $79,700 | -0.7% | $38.32/hr |
| Network Administrator in MT | $80,950 | +0.9% | $38.92/hr |
| Financial Examiner in MT | $80,970 | +0.9% | $38.93/hr |
| Respiratory Therapist in MT | $81,190 | +1.2% | $39.03/hr |