Nurse practitioner salary in Montana
Montana nurse practitioners earn a median of $137,210 a year ($65.97 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 4% above the national median of $132,300, and ranks 12th of 51 states.
Median, Montana
$137,210
Mean $135,290
Middle half earns
$123,260 to $151,860
US: $117,990 to $156,700
Employed in Montana
1,260
1.18x the national concentration
Where Montana sits in the range
Montana
Statewide
United States
National
Billings
Metro area
Great Falls
Metro area
Missoula
Metro area
Helena
Metro area
Nurse practitioner pay by percentile
Ten percent of Montana nurse practitioners earned less than $105,110 and ten percent earned more than $166,940, a spread of $61,830. Where you land depends mostly on specialty, setting, experience and how the productivity pay is built, which is why two offers in the same city can be far apart.
| Percentile | Montana | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $105,110 | $101,340 | +3.7% |
| 25th | $123,260 | $117,990 | +4.5% |
| Median | $137,210 | $132,300 | +3.7% |
| 75th | $151,860 | $156,700 | -3.1% |
| 90th | $166,940 | $174,420 | -4.3% |
Nurse practitioner pay by metro area
BLS published NP pay for 5 metro areas that include part of Montana. Bozeman, MT has the highest median at $139,990. Metro estimates rest on smaller samples than the statewide figure, so treat a low-precision row as a direction, not a number.
| Metro area | Employed | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 160 | $139,050 | $116,150 to $140,870 |
| Great Falls, MT | 150 | $130,330 | $122,930 to $134,780 |
| Missoula, MT | 140 | $131,650 | $124,240 to $138,410 |
| Helena, MT | 110 | $136,420 | $134,670 to $154,620 |
| Bozeman, MTmoderate precision | 100 | $139,990 | $127,030 to $158,290 |
How NP pay compares with other clinicians in Montana
| Occupation | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse practitioner | $137,210 | $132,300 |
| Physician assistant | $141,470 | $135,880 |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $277,380 | $236,590 |
| Registered nurse | $85,280 | $97,550 |
The Montana NP workforce
BLS counts 1,260 nurse practitioners on Montana payrolls, or 2.46 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, close to the national concentration. The federal NPI registry, which also counts self-employed and part-time clinicians, lists 1,495 nurse practitioners with a Montana practice address, and 62 new NP NPIs there in the past twelve months.
Using these numbers when you negotiate
A state median is a reference point, not a target. If an offer comes in under $123,260, it sits in the bottom quarter of what Montana nurse practitioners earn, and you should know why before you sign: a new-grad rate, a light schedule, or a base kept low because a productivity bonus is supposed to make up the difference. If it is above $151,860, ask what is expected in return, such as call, volume targets or a longer non-compete.
Compare the whole package, not the base: how the bonus is calculated, call pay, CME, PTO and who pays malpractice tail coverage. The negotiation guide and the contract checklist walk through each term.
Questions about NP pay in Montana
How much does a NP make in Montana?
The median annual wage for nurse practitioners in Montana was $137,210 in May 2025, and the mean was $135,290, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $123,260 and $151,860.
What is the hourly rate for nurse practitioners in Montana?
The median hourly wage was $65.97 and the mean was $65.04. BLS computes hourly figures from annual pay assuming a full-time year, so per-shift or per-diem rates can differ.
Where do NPs earn the most in Montana?
Among Montana metro areas with published data, Bozeman, MT had the highest median at $139,990, and Great Falls, MT the lowest at $130,330.
How does Montana rank for NP pay?
Montana ranks 12th of 51 states (including DC) by median NP pay, 4% above the national median of $132,300. Pay is only half the picture: compare it with what housing and taxes cost where you would live.
How many nurse practitioners work in Montana?
BLS estimated 1,260 nurse practitioners employed in Montana in May 2025. The federal NPI registry lists 1,495 with a Montana practice address.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (bls.gov/oes), SOC 29-1171, all industries and ownerships. NPI counts: NPPES monthly file, August 2026 (CMS, public domain). BLS wages are straight-time pay: they include production bonuses but leave out overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits, and they exclude the self-employed.
Have an offer on the table?
Book a free intro call with Max. Tell him what you are weighing, and he will tell you whether coaching would help, or whether you just need a few answers.