EN

Language

Search
CostAnswer

Explore

Language

MethodologyAbout

Billings, MT metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Billings, MT?

In the Billings, MT metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $34,590 a year ($16.63 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 580 of these jobs there. That is 29% below the $49,060 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $25,470 and $44,300; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Montana tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $29,104 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Billings, MT at a glance

Median salary

$34,590$16.63 per hour · $2,883 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$25,470$12.25/hr
25th percentile$28,370$13.64/hr
75th percentile$37,120$17.84/hr
90th percentile$44,300$21.30/hr
Jobs in this metro580Location quotient 1.07 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here29% belowAll-jobs median $49,060
Against Montana2% aboveStatewide median $33,860
Against the U.S.2% belowNational median $35,320

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $35,000 a year leaves after tax in MontanaFederal tax, FICA and Montana withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$17 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $35,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $35,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Montana publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Montana.

Food preparation worker salary in Billings, MT after taxes

$34,590
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,590
Net 84%
Fed 6%
MT 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,104After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,425Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,119Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,971 / yr
Montana state income tax$869 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,646 / yr
Customize deductions in full Montana calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Billings, MT, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Billings, MT metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Billings, MT metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (MT)
10th percentile$12.25/hr$2,123$25,470$22,144
25th percentile$13.64/hr$2,364$28,370$24,396
MedianMedian$16.63/hr$2,883$34,590$29,104
75th percentile$17.84/hr$3,093$37,120$31,018
90th percentile$21.30/hr$3,692$44,300$36,450

Is $34,590 a good salary in Billings, MT?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$77,194Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)93.56.5% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household44.8%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Compare markets

Food preparation workers pay in other Montana metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Billings, MT. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Billings, MT: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Billings, MT?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Billings, MT metro area was $34,590 in May 2025, about $2,883 a month or $16.63 an hour. Statewide, the Montana median for this job is $33,860, so the metro pays 2% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Billings, MT?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Billings, MT was $16.63 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.25 an hour and one in ten earned more than $21.30.

How many food preparation workers work in Billings, MT?

BLS estimated 580 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 6.2 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.07 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Billings, MT?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Billings, MT run from $25,470 at the 10th percentile to $28,370 at the 25th, $37,120 at the 75th, and $44,300 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Billings, MT?

On a median gross salary of $34,590, an estimated $29,104 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,119 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Montana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,486 (an effective rate of 15.9%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Billings, MT?

On the median annual salary of $34,590, gross monthly income is $2,883. After federal, FICA, and Montana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,425 per month (or $1,119 every two weeks).

Is $34,590 a good salary in Billings, MT?

At $34,590, the median salary for food preparation workers is 44.8% of the Billings, MT median household income ($77,194). It is 29% below the $49,060 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 93.5, so prices here run 6.5% below the U.S. average.