Lawyer Salary in Montana: $136K Median

The average Lawyer salary in Montana is $135,557 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $60,450 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $232,500 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.

Lawyers in Montana earn approximately 7% less than the US national median ($145,760 nationally vs $135,557 in Montana). Montana's cost-of-living index of 100 is close to the national average.

Yes — Lawyer salaries in Montana grew approximately 440.0% year-over-year, from $25,103 in 2025 to $135,557 in 2026. This reflects the broader Legal sector's wage growth, driven by Legal AI tools and M&A demand.

Montana has no major metros in our database — fallback to the closest tracked city for detailed breakdowns.

Lawyer roles growing 5% nationally. Big Law associate salaries hit $225K starting in 2026. AI-skilled lawyers commanding premiums. Montana's top industries include Agriculture, Tourism, Mining, and the state's unemployment rate is 3% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.

Yes, Montana has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $135,557, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.

Hottest 2026 skills: Legal AI tools, M&A, Privacy law, Tech transactions, Compliance. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Montana employers.

Market for my class year at peer firms is $X plus the standard year-end bonus. I'd like to match market on base with a clear bonus structure tied to billable hours. Beyond base, negotiate: Year-end / Cravath-scale bonus, Bar exam fees, prep courses, admission costs in additional states, CLE allowance and bar association dues, Hybrid or remote schedule (now common post-2024). Walk-away anchor for Montana: $123,234.