Registered Nurses in Montana. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Registered Nurses in Montana earned a median annual wage of $81,560 in 2024, about 14% below the US median of $94,511. The mean wage was higher at $88,480, which tells us that a smaller group of higher-earning nurses pulls the average up.
The spread between the bottom and top of the pay range is worth noting. Nurses at the 10th percentile earned $67,720, while those at the 90th percentile earned $109,450. That is a gap of roughly $42,000, meaning experience, specialty, and the type of facility matter a lot for what someone actually takes home.
Montana's cost of living runs slightly below the national average, with a regional price index of 96.8. After adjusting for that, the gap with the national median narrows. The effective purchasing power of the Montana median is closer to $84,300 in national-baseline dollars, which cuts the headline shortfall roughly in half.
On the job market side, BLS projects average growth for this occupation through 2034, with a projected increase of 4.9% from the 2024 baseline. That puts Registered Nurses in line with the broader economy, neither a fast-growth field nor one contracting.
Salary distribution
Where Montana registered nurses fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $80,210 and $100,800, with a median of $85,280.
Registered Nurses in Montana: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 14 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $77,147. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 4 | $67,340 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $75,473 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $93,600 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 3 | $93,621 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Registered Nurses in Montana. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avant Healthcare Professionals, LLC. | Critical Float Pool Registered Nurse | 6 | $75,473 |
| Benefis Health System, Inc. | Outpatient Registered Nurse | 4 | $67,340 |
| Northeast Montana Health Services, Inc. | Registered Nurse (ER, ICU, OB, and Surgery) | 3 | $93,621 |
| Dahl Memorial Healthcare, Inc. | Emergency Room Clinical Nurse Specialist and Quality Assuran | 1 | $93,600 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Registered Nurse at Benefis Health System, Inc.$81,452Great FallsWage Level IDecided Mar 6, 2026I-200-26058-669205
- Registered Nurse at Avant Healthcare Professionals, LLC.$81,078BillingsWage Level IIDecided Nov 4, 2025I-200-25268-335028
- Emergency Room Clinical Nurse Specialist and Quality Assuran at Dahl Memorial Healthcare, Inc.$93,600EkalakaWage Level IIIDecided Apr 8, 2025I-200-25091-819252
- Registered Nurse (ER, ICU, OB, and Surgery) at Northeast Montana Health Services, Inc.$93,621Wolf PointWage Level IVDecided Mar 18, 2025I-200-25070-766054
- Registered Nurse (ER, ICU, OB, and Surgery) at Northeast Montana Health Services, Inc.$96,450Wolf PointWage Level IVDecided Nov 20, 2024I-200-24318-473516
- Registered Nurse (ER, ICU, OB, and Surgery) at Northeast Montana Health Services, Inc.$92,768Wolf PointWage Level IVDecided Oct 29, 2024I-200-24296-423882
- Outpatient Registered Nurse at Benefis Health System, Inc.$67,413Great FallsWage Level IDecided Nov 26, 2025I-200-25323-422827
- Outpatient Registered Nurse at Benefis Health System, Inc.$67,267Great FallsWage Level IDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25315-396740
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Registered Nurses pay by experience level in Montana
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Registered Nurses specialties in Montana
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 11 certified offers. The most common variant is Critical Float Pool Registered Nurse at a median of $73,247.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Float Pool Registered Nurse | Avant Healthcare Professionals, LLC. | 4 | $73,247 |
| Registered Nurse | Avant Healthcare Professionals, LLC. | 4 | $79,113 |
| Registered Nurse (ER, ICU, OB, and Surgery) | Northeast Montana Health Services, Inc. | 3 | $93,621 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Registered Nurses in Montana, by industry
Median offered wage across 14 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $87,110.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Benefis Health System, Inc. | 8 | $87,110 |
| Professional services | Avant Healthcare Professionals, LLC. | 6 | $75,473 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Montana over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- 02
Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- 03
Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- 04
Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- 05
Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- 06
Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- 07
Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- 08
Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Montana?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Montana is $85,280.
- How does Montana compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
- The Montana median is -13.3% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
- What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Montana?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $70,120 and the 90th-percentile at $113,920, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Registered Nurses a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Registered Nurses?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.