Montana Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your Montana take-home pay — federal tax, Montana's progressive state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare all included.
Montana payroll tax overview
Montana uses a progressive income tax with two brackets after a recent simplification — 4.7% on lower income and 5.9% on income above $20,500 for single filers.
Montana does not add any state-specific payroll deduction on top of income tax, and there are no local city or county income taxes — your total withholding is federal tax + Social Security + Medicare + Montana's two-bracket state tax.
Worked example
A single filer earning $75,000/year in Montana, paid biweekly:
| Item | Per paycheck | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,884.62 | $75,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | ≈ $313.00 | ≈ $8,140.00 |
| Social Security | $178.85 | $4,650.00 |
| Medicare | $41.83 | $1,087.50 |
| Montana state tax | ≈ $160.73 | ≈ $4,179.00 |
| Net pay | ≈ $2,190.13 | ≈ $56,943.50 |
Local income context: how Montana compares
According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, Montana's median household income is $75,340 — below the 2024 national median of $81,604. Montana pairs a below-average median income with no state sales tax — the state's tourism industry (anchored by Glacier and Yellowstone) and traditional agriculture and ranching produce a modest but stable income level, with growing pockets of higher earners around Bozeman.
Median household income reflects a full household (often two earners), while the calculator above estimates take-home pay for a single individual's salary — so it's a useful benchmark for context rather than a direct comparison, but it helps illustrate how a given salary stacks up against typical earnings in Montana.
Frequently asked questions
How Montana compares to other states
Montana's 5.9% top rate is moderate nationally, comparable to New Mexico. The recent simplification to just two brackets makes Montana's system easier to understand than many other progressive-tax states, and the lack of sales tax is a notable everyday cost advantage.
Montana cost-of-living context
Montana's cost of living has risen in recent years, particularly around Bozeman and other mountain-adjacent towns, though many parts of the state remain considerably more affordable. The lack of sales tax provides some offsetting benefit on everyday purchases.
More frequently asked questions
Montana minimum wage context
Montana sets a statewide minimum wage with scheduled annual adjustments for inflation. No Montana city sets its own local minimum wage, so the statewide rate applies uniformly if you're entering an hourly figure into this calculator.