Working full time at $15 an hour ($31,200 a year) in Montana, a single filer takes home about $26,539 a year, $2,212 a month or $12.76 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $710 Montana income tax.
#29 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $31,200 | $2,600 |
| Federal income tax | $1,564 | $130 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $1,934 | $161 |
| Medicare | $452 | $38 |
| Montana income tax | $710 | $59 |
| Take-home | $26,539 | $2,212 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| Montana marginal rate | 4.70% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Vermont. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $15,100 (after the $16,100 standard deduction), which puts the top slice of your pay in the 12% bracket ($12,400 to $50,400). You have about $35,300 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 5.0%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 14.9% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $756 to your take-home.
| Federal bracket | Your income in it | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% on $0–$12,400 | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% on $12,400–$50,400 | $2,700 | $324 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 24.3% |
| Effective (average) | 5.0% | 14.9% |
Compared with the Montana median
$31,200 is 43% of the Montana median household income of $72,509 (Census ACS 2020–2024 median; households can have more than one earner, so a single salary is not directly comparable).
Affordability snapshot
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Rent budget (30% of gross) | $780/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $110,000 |
| Montana median home value | $375,800 (Census 2020–2024) |
Rule of thumb only: housing at 30% of gross monthly pay. Home price assumes a 30-year fixed at the Freddie Mac average of 7.40% (week of 2026-10-15), 10% down, the Montana median effective property tax rate and about 0.35% a year for insurance. Lenders also weigh debts, credit and PMI.
401(k) and HSA effect
| Contribution | Saved | Take-home cut | Tax saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% to a 401(k) ($1,872/yr) | $1,872 | $1,559 | $313 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,363 | $1,037 |
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals cut federal and Montana income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; payroll HSA contributions also skip FICA. 2026 limits: 401(k) $24,500 (under 50), HSA $4,400 self-only (IRS). Some states tax HSA contributions; this estimate assumes they follow federal rules.
What applies at this income
- You are under the 2026 Roth IRA income limit for single filers ($153,000 of modified AGI), so you can contribute the full amount.
- Maxing out a 401(k) ($24,500) would take more than half your gross pay at this level, so most people here contribute a percentage instead.
Montana jobs that typically pay about $31,200
$31,200 is above the median pay of 10 of the 98 common occupations we track in Montana (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The closest are:
| Occupation | Montana median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,090 | −$2,110 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $29,710 | −$1,490 |
| Dishwashers | $30,130 | −$1,070 |
Where $31,200 lands inside other Montana jobs
For 1 of these occupations, $31,200 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 9, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Montana pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 10th | $30,430 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 10th | $30,500 |
| Retail Salespersons | 25th | $30,510 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 10th | $30,780 |
| Short-Term Substitute Teachers | 75th | $30,830 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 25th | $31,100 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 10th | $31,110 |
| Preschool Teachers | 25th | $31,480 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | 25th | $31,610 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 10th | $32,170 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $13 an hour in Montana$1,947/mo
- $14 an hour in Montana$2,080/mo
- $16 an hour in Montana$2,343/mo
- $17 an hour in Montana$2,474/mo
- Montana income tax brackets2026
- Minimum wage in Montana2026
- Montana property taxby county
Single filer, W-2 wages only; 2026 IRS brackets and $16,100 standard deduction, FICA (Social Security to $184,500, Medicare +0.9% over $200,000) and state rules per the Tax Foundation (Jan 1, 2026). Local taxes and payroll deductions are excluded. Sources: IRS, SSA, Tax Foundation. Not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $15 an hour after taxes in Montana?
Working full time at $15 an hour ($31,200 a year) in Montana, a single filer takes home about $26,539 a year, $2,212 a month or $12.76 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $710 Montana income tax.
How much is $15 an hour per month after taxes in Montana?
About $2,212 a month, or $1,021 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $15 an hour in Montana?
About $710 a year (marginal rate 4.70%).