How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Montana in 2026?

A typical Surgical Tech in Montana earns about $29.31 per hour ($60,970 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Based on that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $5,081 a month and $1,172 a week. Those numbers describe the middle of the pay range for the profession in the state. They give a starting point before factoring in experience or location.

That figure sits 6% below the national typical pay of $64,650 a year for Surgical Techs, according to the same May 2025 data. Montana ranks 37th out of 51 states and jurisdictions on pay for this occupation. About 490 Surgical Techs work in Montana, a modest workforce compared with the 117,460 nationwide. Lower pay in Montana tends to track its lower cost of living relative to larger metro areas.

Entry-level positions in Montana typically offer around $18.12 an hour, or about $37,690 a year, for Surgical Techs who are just starting out. Some newcomers earn closer to $23.64 an hour, or $49,170 a year, once they clear the first year or two on the job. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $60,970 within a few years of steady experience. Facility type and shift schedule also shape how quickly that happens.

Experienced Surgical Techs in Montana often earn upwards of $33.93 an hour, or about $70,580 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $79,330 a year, translating to roughly $38.14 an hour. That leaves a spread of $41,640 between entry-level and top-tier pay in the state. Setting, years on the job, and which city a Surgical Tech works in all factor into where someone lands in that range.

Montana's typical pay for Surgical Techs rose from $43,370 in 2015 to $60,970 in 2025, a gain of $17,600. That amounts to a 41% increase over the decade, tracked through a dip in 2020 and 2021 before rebounding sharply by 2023. Pay climbed again the following year, reaching $60,610 in 2024 before settling at its current level. The rise reflects a full decade of wage data rather than a single year's swing.

Nationally, Surgical Tech pay rose 46% over the same decade, a few points ahead of Montana's climb. That gap lines up with Montana's current position slightly below the national figure. Pay for the profession has moved up steadily in Montana over the past ten years, though past growth does not guarantee future increases for someone starting out today.

Pay runs highest in Bozeman, where Surgical Techs typically earn $65,600 a year, about 8% above the state figure. Missoula follows closely at $64,030 a year, and Helena comes in at $62,910. Each of these figures covers the full metro area around the city, not just the city limits.

Billings pays the least of the four metro areas tracked, with a typical wage of $54,920 a year, leaving a spread of $10,680 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities in the state. Billings is also home to the largest Surgical Tech workforce in Montana, with 140 workers, more than any other metro area listed. Pay differences between Montana's cities often mirror differences in local living costs.

Compared with its neighbors, Montana trails Idaho, where Surgical Techs typically earn $72,550 a year, about 19% more than in Montana. North Dakota sits close to Montana's level at $61,640, just 1% higher, while South Dakota ($59,870) and Wyoming ($58,850) both pay somewhat less. Surgical Techs considering a move across state lines can often transfer or endorse their certification into a neighboring state rather than starting the process over.

Surgical Techs in Montana typically earn $60,970 a year, or $29.31 an hour, as of the latest government wage data (May 2025). That figure has climbed 41% over the past decade, up from $43,370 in 2015. Readers weighing a move or a new position in the field can check Montana's licensing or registry requirements and look at city-level figures for Bozeman, Missoula, Helena, and Billings to see how pay varies locally.