Current Minimum Wage in Montana
The minimum wage in Montana is $10.55 per hour as of 2026. This is $3.3 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr.
Wage Breakdown
| Pay Period | Gross Pay | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $10.55 | 1 |
| Daily (8 hours) | $84.4 | 8 |
| Weekly | $422 | 40 |
| Biweekly | $844 | 80 |
| Monthly | $1,829 | ~173 |
| Annual | $21,944 | 2,080 |
Tipped Employee Wage
Montana does not allow a tip credit. Tipped employees must receive the full minimum wage of $10.55/hr from their employer, with tips on top.
Scheduled Increases
Adjusted annually based on CPI inflation.
Living Wage vs. Minimum Wage
Federal Poverty Line (single)
$15,060/year
Minimum wage is $6,884 above poverty line
Estimated Living Wage (MT)
~$16.85/hr
Based on cost of living index (99.1)
Cost of Living Context
Montana's cost of living index is 99.1 (national average = 100). This means living in Montana is 0.9% cheaper than the national average. The median hourly wage in Montana is $20.13/hr, which is 91% above the minimum wage.
Key Facts
No tip credit. Annual CPI adjustments. Employers with gross sales under $110K can pay $4.00/hr.
How This Compares
| Metric | MT | Federal | Highest (WA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Wage | $10.55 | $7.25 | $16.66 |
| Tipped Wage | $10.55 | $2.13 | $16.66 |
| Annual (FT) | $21,944 | $15,080 | $34,653 |
Useful Resources
Montana Average Salary
Median income and top employers in MT
Montana Tax Rates
Income, sales & property tax in MT
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