How much does a AI / ML Engineer make in Montana?

The average AI / ML Engineer salary in Montana is around $220,000 per year. After federal taxes, FICA, and Montana state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $151,373 annually ($12,614/month).

What is the take-home pay for a AI / ML Engineer in Montana?

On a $220,000 salary in Montana, your take-home pay is approximately $151,373/year or $12,614/month. Federal tax: $41,704. State tax: $12,115. FICA: $0.00.

Is $220,000 a good AI / ML Engineer salary?

$220,000 is a strong salary for a AI / ML Engineer — above the national median. In Montana, demand for this role is active.

How do Montana taxes affect AI / ML Engineer salaries?

Montana levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $220,000 is $12,115. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 31.2%.

What are the career growth prospects for AI / ML Engineers?

BLS projects 23% growth through 2032 for computer/info-research scientists (which AI/ML engineers fall under) — among the fastest-growing tech roles. Frontier-lab demand uniquely strong — OpenAI / Anthropic / xAI / Mistral / DeepMind hiring at premium tiers $300K-$700K base alone for senior MLE, plus equity 1.5x-3x base.. Related roles include: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Research Scientist, Applied Scientist, Deep Learning Engineer, NLP Engineer, Computer Vision Engineer, MLE, AI Engineer, Quant ML Engineer.

How can a AI / ML Engineer in Montana reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Tech

AI / ML Engineer Salary in Montana (2026)

The average AI / ML Engineer in Montana earns around $220,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $151,373/year ($12,614/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$151,373
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$12,614
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$5,822
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$73/hr
Federal Tax	$41,704
State Tax	$12,115
FICA Taxes	$14,809
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	31.19%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

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AI / ML Engineer Salary Ranges in Montana

Entry Level (0–3 yrs)

$165,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Mid Level (3–7 yrs)

$220,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Senior Level (7+ yrs)

$380,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Not all AI / ML Engineers earn the same — not even close

Montana's AI/ML engineering market is anchored by the substantial post-2020 Bozeman tech corridor (Workiva Bozeman generative AI + Snowflake Bozeman + the substantial Bozeman post-2020 remote-AI migration + Foundant Technologies), Billings Clinic + Logan Health + Bozeman Health clinical AI + post-2024 generative AI clinical decision support, NorthWestern Energy MT (wind energy forecasting AI + post-2024 MT wind buildout AI), Stillwater Mining Nye (Sibanye-Stillwater PGM ore grade + recovery AI), Malmstrom AFB cleared AI/ML + 341st Missile Wing + Sentinel ICBM AI sensor fusion, MSU Bozeman + MSU TechLink Center + MSU Spectrum Lab AI research, the substantial MT wildland fire AI (USFS + DNRC + the substantial Missoula Aerial Fire Depot Smokejumper post-2024 AI fire prediction), plus UM Missoula + MT Tech + Carroll College AI pipelines.

Staff / Principal AI Engineer (Bozeman / Remote)

$148,000–$285,000+ TC

Senior AI IC at Bozeman + remote-anchored · Workiva + Snowflake + startup AI

Senior AI Engineer (Bozeman SaaS)

$125,000–$195,000+ TC

Workiva Bozeman generative AI + Snowflake Bozeman + the substantial Bozeman AI startups

Senior AI Engineer (Cleared / Malmstrom Sentinel)

$125,000–$192,000+ TC

Malmstrom 341st MW + Sentinel · TS/SCI premium + ICBM sensor fusion AI

Senior AI Engineer (Billings / Logan Health Clinical AI)

$108,000–$162,000+ bonus

Billings Clinic + Logan Health · clinical AI + post-2024 generative clinical decision support

Senior AI Engineer (NorthWestern Energy Wind)

$105,000–$158,000+ bonus

NorthWestern Energy · wind energy forecasting + post-2024 MT wind buildout AI

Senior AI Engineer (Stillwater Mining PGM)

$108,000–$162,000+ bonus

Stillwater Mining · PGM ore grade + recovery + the only US PGM mine AI

Senior AI Engineer (MT Wildfire / Smokejumper)

$95,000–$148,000+ TC

USFS Missoula Aerial Fire Depot + DNRC · wildfire prediction + post-2024 fire AI

AI/ML Manager

$148,000–$245,000+ TC

AI lead at Bozeman tech + Billings Clinic + NorthWestern + Malmstrom · team lead

Mid-Level AI Engineer (3-6 yrs)

$88,000–$132,000

Functional AI IC at MT employers · transitioning to senior band

Junior AI Engineer (0-3 yrs)

$68,000–$92,000

MSU + UM + MT Tech + Carroll College AI pipeline · entry band

Worth knowing: MT wildland fire AI + the substantial Missoula Aerial Fire Depot Smokejumper + USFS Region 1 wildfire response is one of the country's distinctive concentrated US single-state wildfire AI anchor and a feature most national AI/ML surveys understate for MT. The substantial MT wildland fire AI (the substantial US Forest Service Region 1 Northern Region HQ Missoula + the substantial Missoula Aerial Fire Depot one of the country's earliest US smokejumper bases founded 1939 + the substantial Missoula Smokejumper post-2024 substantial MT wildfire surge response + the substantial Montana DNRC Department of Natural Resources & Conservation wildfire response coordination + the substantial post-2017 Lodgepole Complex Fire + post-2021 Trail Creek Fire + post-2024 MT wildfire season + the substantial post-2024 federal + state wildfire prediction AI investment + the substantial MT-Idaho-WY-OR-WA-ND-SD interagency wildfire response) supports substantial MT wildfire AI work. Senior MT wildfire AI engineers clear $95-148K+ TC. The post-2020 Bozeman tech corridor AI + Workiva Bozeman generative AI + Snowflake + Billings Clinic + Logan Health clinical AI + NorthWestern Energy wind AI + Stillwater Mining PGM AI + Malmstrom AFB + post-2024 Sentinel ICBM cleared AI. MT flat 5.9% + MT is NOT a RTW state + MT 0% sales tax anchor the MT AI proposition.