Salaries in Belgrade, MT

You’d expect a town of 11,000 to be a quiet spot, but Belgrade’s 2.6% unemployment rate is tighter than the national average. It’s a blue-collar town with a surprising white-collar spine, thanks to the tech spillover from Bozeman just down the road. And here’s the kicker: the median household income is pushing $89,000.

Let’s talk real money. Belgrade’s cost of living sits at 103, meaning it’s a touch pricier than the U.S. average. That $88,896 median income doesn’t stretch as far as it might in, say, Billings. A one-bedroom apartment runs about $1,081 a month, which is manageable but eats into that take-home pay more than you’d think for a town its size. It’s not a bargain, but it’s not a wallet-drainer either.

Who’s actually thriving here? The data points to two clear winners. Software developers are pulling in a stunning $128,405 on average, a number that feels almost out of place until you realize they’re likely remote workers for Bozeman or Seattle firms. That’s the big surprise. The other pillars are more traditional: healthcare, anchored by the local hospital system, and construction, driven by the relentless growth in the region. Accountants and nurses do well here, too, earning in the mid-$80,000s.

Here’s the honest catch: while the top earners are doing great, the average salary across all roles is just $57,519. That’s a significant gap. Wages for service and retail workers haven’t kept pace with the cost creep from the Bozeman effect. This city works beautifully for skilled trades, tech workers, and medical professionals. For everyone else, it’s a tighter squeeze than the median income suggests.

The numbers below will show you exactly where you land in that divide.