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Helena, MT metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

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

In the Helena, MT metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $34,960 a year ($16.81 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 210 of these jobs there. That is 36% below the $55,040 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $24,020 and $41,290; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Montana tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $29,384 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Helena, MT at a glance

Median salary

$34,960$16.81 per hour · $2,913 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$24,020$11.55/hr
25th percentile$28,810$13.85/hr
75th percentile$36,020$17.32/hr
90th percentile$41,290$19.85/hr
Jobs in this metro210Location quotient 0.84 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here36% belowAll-jobs median $55,040
Against Montana3% aboveStatewide median $33,860
Against the U.S.1% belowNational median $35,320

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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 Helena, MT after taxes

$34,960
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,960
Net 84%
Fed 6%
MT 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,384After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,449Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,130Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,015 / yr
Montana state income tax$886 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,674 / yr
Customize deductions in full Montana calculator

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

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

What food preparation workers earned in the Helena, MT metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (MT)
10th percentile$11.55/hr$2,002$24,020$21,018
25th percentile$13.85/hr$2,401$28,810$24,731
MedianMedian$16.81/hr$2,913$34,960$29,384
75th percentile$17.32/hr$3,002$36,020$30,186
90th percentile$19.85/hr$3,441$41,290$34,173

Is $34,960 a good salary in Helena, 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$78,528Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)95.74.3% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household44.5%of area median income

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

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Food preparation workers pay in other Montana metros

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

Food preparation worker pay in Helena, MT: common questions

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

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Helena, MT metro area was $34,960 in May 2025, about $2,913 a month or $16.81 an hour. Statewide, the Montana median for this job is $33,860, so the metro pays 3% above the state.

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

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Helena, MT was $16.81 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $11.55 an hour and one in ten earned more than $19.85.

How many food preparation workers work in Helena, MT?

BLS estimated 210 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 4.8 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.84 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

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

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Helena, MT run from $24,020 at the 10th percentile to $28,810 at the 25th, $36,020 at the 75th, and $41,290 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $34,960, an estimated $29,384 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,130 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Montana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,576 (an effective rate of 15.9%).

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

On the median annual salary of $34,960, gross monthly income is $2,913. After federal, FICA, and Montana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,449 per month (or $1,130 every two weeks).

Is $34,960 a good salary in Helena, MT?

At $34,960, the median salary for food preparation workers is 44.5% of the Helena, MT median household income ($78,528). It is 36% below the $55,040 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 95.7, so prices here run 4.3% below the U.S. average.