PublicPay

Federal employee salaries in Montana

Full-time federal civilian employees with a published duty station in Montana earned a median of $87,128 in September 2026, 21% below the all-federal median of $109,641. That ranks #47 of 51 (50 states and DC) by median pay.

Median pay
$87,128
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$65,599–$113,533
25th–75th percentile
Employees
8,481
with published duty station
Rank
#47
of 51 by median
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Montana
All federal (full-time)

OPM withheld the duty-station location for 943,611 federal employees nationwide, including the entire Department of Defense civilian workforce and large parts of the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice. Those employees are not counted in any state, so state totals understate the federal presence, especially in states with large military installations.

Pay by occupation in Montana

The 30 largest occupations in Montana with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay (58 qualify in total).

Federal pay by occupation in Montana
Occupation Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Wildland Fire Management Series 0456 834 $52,957 $48,424–$76,631
Forestry Technician Series 0462 736 $68,828 $46,922–$77,689
Nurse Series 0610 530 $119,052 $110,412–$130,591
Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301 369 $95,475 $78,186–$117,081
General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401 368 $101,443 $87,128–$117,081
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant Series 0303 219 $53,824 $48,436–$57,517
Medical Support Assistance Series 0679 201 $68,272 $58,871–$72,410
Maintenance Mechanic Series 4749 161 $74,631 $65,219–$83,981
Park Ranger Series 0025 142 $40,736 $40,736–$58,771
Biological Science Technician Series 0404 134 $50,460 $40,736–$59,031
Civil Engineering Series 0810 129 $109,600 $95,475–$120,629
Forestry Series 0460 122 $82,148 $69,954–$95,475
Information Technology Management Series 2210 113 $107,411 $90,337–$127,725
Health Aid and Technician Series 0640 103 $52,957 $47,525–$65,659
Pharmacist Series 0660 102 $173,278 $157,898–$177,616
Management and Program Analysis Series 0343 102 $110,190 $85,260–$120,629
Veterans Claims Examining Series 0996 100 $89,508 $74,765–$98,459
Medical Officer Series 0602 97 $310,882 $280,460–$345,028
Soil Conservation Series 0457 96 $89,618 $79,658–$100,697
Human Resources Management Series 0201 92 $110,395 $92,299–$122,403
General Business and Industry Series 1101 92 $85,883 $65,838–$117,081
Custodial Working Series 3566 90 $47,959 $45,559–$50,965
Program Management Series 0340 84 $134,162 $118,855–$154,002
Social Work Series 0185 83 $102,892 $88,448–$111,229
Transportation Specialist Series 2101 83 $107,058 $98,028–$120,087
Financial Clerical and Assistance Series 0503 76 $40,736 $40,736–$55,506
Wildlife Biology Series 0486 71 $92,107 $82,148–$105,173
Rangeland Management Series 0454 69 $82,148 $71,498–$94,597
Air Traffic Control Series 2152 69 $100,797 $82,550–$109,785
Social Insurance Administration Series 0105 66 $89,618 $82,148–$105,173

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Pay by agency in Montana

Federal pay by agency in Montana
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Agriculture 3,054 $79,658 $61,722–$98,459
Department of the Interior 1,904 $82,148 $53,824–$107,411
Department of Veterans Affairs 1,722 $98,459 $72,644–$124,177
Department of Health and Human Services 1,018 $87,827 $59,031–$121,173
Department of Transportation 209 $109,125 $92,297–$127,725
Department of Commerce 132 $113,533 $87,128–$134,327
Department of Energy 131 $137,825 $123,926–$151,120
Social Security Administration 89 $92,491 $82,148–$110,292
Department of Homeland Security 54 $113,533 $88,373–$138,356
Environmental Protection Agency 40 $117,081 $109,985–$131,273

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved +1.0% from $86,259 in September 2025 to $87,128 in September 2026. Headcount went from 9,309 to 8,481 (−8.9%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

States with similar median federal pay

All states ranked →