2026 Tax Year · Single Filer · Montana

$15 an Hour in Montana — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)

At $15/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $31,200. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Montana state income tax, your take-home pay is $12.40/hr. In Montana's medium cost-of-living environment, this is below what's needed for comfortable living in Montana.

Gross Annual

$31,200

Net Annual
$25,799

Net Monthly

$2,150

Net Hourly

$12.40

Pay Period Breakdown

Hourly $15.00 $2.60 $12.40

Daily (8 hrs) $120.00 $20.77 $99.23

Weekly (40 hrs) $600.00 $103.86 $496.14

Biweekly $1,200.00 $207.72 $992.29

Monthly $2,600.00 $450.05 $2,149.95

Annual $31,200 $5,401 $25,799

Full Tax Breakdown — Montana, Single Filer

Gross Annual Income $15/hr × 2,080 hrs $31,200

Federal Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100

Federal Taxable Income $15,100

Federal Income Tax 5.0% −$1,564.00

Social Security (6.2%) up to $184,500 −$1,934.40

Medicare (1.45%) −$452.40

Montana Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$5,540

Montana State Income Tax 4.6% −$1,449.79

Total Tax 17.3% effective −$5,400.59

Net Take-Home $25,799

How Does Montana Compare?

See how $15/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:

California $422.38 $2,236/mo $26,827 Florida None $2,271/mo $27,249 New York $958.25 $2,191/mo $26,291 Texas None $2,271/mo $27,249 Washington None $2,271/mo $27,249

Open Full Calculator for Montana — $15/hr →

Equivalent Annual Salary Pages

$15/hr = $31,200/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:

Adjacent Rates in Montana

Same Rate, Other States

Cost of Living in Montana

✗ Difficult — $15/hr falls short in Montana

Avg 1BR rent in Billings: $1,200/mo — over the 30% rule (46% of gross monthly)
Minimum comfortable income in Montana: $40,000/yr
Your net annual: $25,799 ($14,201 below comfortable threshold)
Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$15.8/hr

Working at $15/hr in Montana

Montana has no sales tax, which provides real daily savings on purchases. Billings 1BR rents average $1,200/month. The remote work boom has made Bozeman and Missoula significantly more expensive — these cities now rival western metro costs.

At $15/hr, you work roughly 97 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Billings ($1,200/mo) -- that's above the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 1.4x Montana's minimum wage of $10.55/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at $15/hr in Montana is 17.3% -- federal income tax accounts for 5.0%, FICA 7.7%, and Montana state tax 4.6%.

Montana's economy is driven by agriculture, tourism (Glacier and Yellowstone national parks), energy (coal, oil, natural gas), healthcare, and a growing remote-work population. The job market is tight due to the small population.

Montana has a flat 5.9% income tax rate. No sales tax, which provides meaningful consumer savings. Montana's overall tax burden is moderate.

Montana's minimum wage is $10.55/hr (2026), indexed to inflation.

Monthly Budget on $15/hr in Montana

Based on $2,150/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for Montana's cost of living.

Rent / Housing $1,200 $14,400 55.8%

Food (groceries + dining) $258 $3,096 12.0%

Transportation $215 $2,580 10.0%

Utilities $129 $1,548 6.0%

Healthcare $107 $1,284 5.0%

Entertainment $107 $1,284 5.0%

Savings (10% target) $215 $2,580 10.0%

Remaining / Surplus $-81 $-972 -3.8%

⚠ This budget is underwater — rent alone exceeds the 30% guideline in Montana at $15/hr. Consider roommates, lower-cost areas, or targeting a higher wage to reach balance.

Overtime Pay — $15/hr in Montana

At time-and-a-half ($22.50/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in Montana. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~19.1%.

5 hrs/week $113 $91 $4,550

10 hrs/week $225 $182 $9,100

20 hrs/week $450 $364 $18,200

Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $15/hr

How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $12.40 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.

Tank of gas (12 gal) $50 3.4 hrs 4.1 hrs

Week of groceries $120 8 hrs 9.7 hrs

iPhone 16 (base) $799 53.3 hrs 64.5 hrs

1 month rent (Billings) $1,200 80 hrs 96.8 hrs

Used car ($10k) $10,000 666.7 hrs 806.3 hrs

Median new car ($48k) $48,000 3200 hrs 3869.9 hrs

What Jobs Pay $15/hr in Montana?

At $15/hour, you earn 35% below the estimated median hourly wage in Montana. Jobs that commonly pay around this rate include:

barista, home health aide, security guard, warehouse associate, hotel front desk agent, call center representative

These figures reflect statewide averages for Montana. The Billings metro area typically pays 12% more than rural parts of the state for the same role. Specialized certifications, union membership, or government employment at this wage tier often add meaningful benefits that raise total compensation above the base hourly figure.

At 15/hr in Montana, your net income of $25,799 falls $14,201 short of the estimated $40,000 comfortable living threshold. Roommates, a side income, or a wage increase would significantly improve financial stability.

Geographic Wage Variation Within Montana

The $15/hr figure reflects a statewide average. Wages for the same job title can differ significantly by location within Montana. The Billings metro area generally commands a 12% premium over the state average, while rural areas typically pay 6% less.

Billings metro$16.8/hr+12%Higher pay, higher COL

Montana average$15/hrBaselineThis page's figures

Rural Montana$14.1/hr-6%Lower pay, lower COL

When choosing between metro and rural Montana at this wage tier, compare net monthly surplus rather than gross hourly rates. Rural areas have lower rent, shorter commutes, and lower day-to-day costs -- the purchasing power difference is often smaller than the raw wage gap suggests.

Savings Goals at $15/hr in Montana

Saving $215/month (10% of net), here is how long it takes to reach common financial milestones from a starting balance of zero:

Weekend getaway$3,00014 monthsFlights + hotel, domestic

3-month emergency fund$5,72727 monthsCore expenses only

6-month emergency fund$11,45454 monthsFull financial cushion

Used car (no loan)$8,00038 monthsReliable used vehicle

New car down payment$25,000117 months~50% down to minimize payments

Home down payment$6,00028 months10% on a starter home in Montana

At 15/hr in Montana, hitting these savings goals requires strict discipline. Track expenses for 30 days to identify spending leaks -- small cuts in food and entertainment often free up $100-$200/month without affecting quality of life.

Debt Payoff on $15/hr in Montana

Allocating 15% of net monthly income ($322/month) toward debt repayment is sustainable while still allowing for savings and essentials.

Credit card$5,000$32216 months

Student loan$30,000$32294 months

These timelines exclude interest, which meaningfully extends payoff for high-APR credit cards. Prioritize high-interest debt first. Even an extra $50/month toward a credit card balance can cut months off your payoff timeline and save hundreds in interest.

401(k) and Retirement at $15/hr

Contributing 6% ($1,872/year) to a pre-tax 401(k) saves you $330 in taxes at your 17.6% marginal rate -- your actual out-of-pocket cost is only $1,542/year. If your employer matches up to 6%, that match is $1,872 in additional annual compensation -- never leave it uncaptured.

Saving $2,580/year and investing at a 7% average annual return builds significant wealth over time:

5 years$12,900$13,674$774 interest

10 years$25,800$27,425$1,625 interest

20 years$51,600$55,315$3,715 interest

What Would a Raise Mean at $15/hr in Montana?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,683 to your annual net take-home in Montana after taxes. Your marginal rate on additional income is approximately 19.1%, so you keep 80.9% of every extra dollar earned.

$1/hr raise$16/hr$1,683$140

5% raise$15.8/hr$1,346$112

10% raise$16.5/hr$2,524$210

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 15 an hour a good wage in Montana?

15/hr in Montana gives you $25,799/year after taxes -- below what's needed for comfortable living in Montana. Avg 1BR rent in Billings: $1,200/month (exceeds the 30% rule). It places you 35% below the estimated state median wage.

What is 15 an hour after taxes in Montana?

15/hr in Montana = $25,799/year or $2,150/month net. Effective tax rate: 17.3%, made up of 5.0% federal, 7.7% FICA, and 4.6% Montana state tax.

What jobs pay 15 an hour in Montana?

Common roles at 15/hr in Montana include cashier, food service worker, retail associate. Metro areas like Billings typically pay 12% more for the same role.

How does 15/hr go further -- Montana or Texas?

15/hr in Montana has similar purchasing power to ~15.8/hr in Texas. Montana state income tax reduces take-home vs Texas.

How long to build an emergency fund at 15/hr in Montana?

Saving $215/month (10% of net), you reach a 3-month emergency fund of $5,727 in 27 months. A 6-month fund takes 54 months.

What does a 401(k) cost at 15/hr in Montana?

A 6% contribution ($1,872/year) saves $330 in taxes at your 17.6% marginal rate. Your net out-of-pocket cost is only $1,542/year -- and if your employer matches, it is essentially free money.

What does a $1/hr raise mean at 15/hr in Montana?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,683/year to your net take-home in Montana after the 19.1% marginal tax rate. You keep 80.9% of every additional dollar earned.

What is the effective tax rate at 15/hr in Montana?

At 15/hr in Montana, your total effective tax rate is 17.3%: federal income tax 5.0%, Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.5%, and Montana state tax 4.6%. You keep 82.7% of every gross dollar.

Can you afford rent in Billings on 15/hr?

The average 1BR in Billings is $1,200/month. At 15/hr, rent consumes 46% of your gross monthly pay -- above the 30% affordability guideline. Your net hourly rate of $12.40 means you work 97 hours per month to cover rent.

What does 15/hr look like as an annual salary?

15/hr times 2,080 hours equals $31,200/year gross. After all taxes in Montana, your net annual income is $25,799 -- an effective take-home rate of 82.7%.