How much does a Police Officer make in Montana?

The average Police Officer salary in Montana is around $62,000 per year. After federal taxes, FICA, and Montana state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $49,205 annually ($4,100/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Police Officer in Montana?

On a $62,000 salary in Montana, your take-home pay is approximately $49,205/year or $4,100/month. Federal tax: $5,260. State tax: $2,793. FICA: $0.00.

Is $62,000 a good Police Officer salary?

$62,000 is a competitive salary for a Police Officer — near the national median. In Montana, demand for this role is active.

How do Montana taxes affect Police Officer salaries?

Montana levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $62,000 is $2,793. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 20.6%.

What are the career growth prospects for Police Officers?

3% growth through 2032 (about as fast as average). Related roles include: Detective, Sergeant, State Trooper, Sheriff Deputy, Federal Agent.

How can a Police Officer 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.

Public Safety

Police Officer Salary in Montana (2026)

The average Police Officer in Montana earns around $62,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $49,205/year ($4,100/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$49,205
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$4,100
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$1,892
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$24/hr
Federal Tax	$5,260
State Tax	$2,793
FICA Taxes	$4,743
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	20.64%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Want to model 401(k), HSA, or pre-tax contributions against your full salary? Open the salary calculator →

Working overtime? The 2025 OBBBA deduction may save you up to $12,500 on federal tax. Open the No Tax on Overtime calculator →

1099 contract work or side gigs? Self-employment tax adds 15.3% on top. Open the 1099 tax calculator →

Got a year-end bonus, sign-on, or retention payout? See the bonus calculator →

Key terms:···

Police Officer Salary Ranges in Montana

Entry Level (0–3 yrs)

$55,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Mid Level (3–7 yrs)

$80,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Senior Level (7+ yrs)

$130,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Not all Police Officers earn the same — not even close

Montana's police officer market is anchored by Billings Police Department (~150 sworn officers + the largest MT municipal police + the substantial Billings post-2020 reform + BPD Major Crimes + the substantial post-2020 Billings recruitment + retention challenges + the substantial Billings Yellowstone County market), Montana Highway Patrol MHP (~225 sworn troopers + the substantial MT statewide police agency + MHP Major Crime + MHP Special Response Team + MHP K-9 + the substantial MHP I-90 + I-94 + I-15 interstate patrol + the substantial MHP covering vast MT rural territory + tribal jurisdiction coordination + the substantial MHP Glacier + Yellowstone + Bakken oil region patrol), Missoula Police Department (~110 sworn + UM + the substantial Missoula post-2020 reform + the substantial Bitterroot Valley), Great Falls Police Department (~95 sworn + the substantial Malmstrom AFB + Cascade County), Bozeman Police Department (~80 sworn + MSU + the substantial post-2020 Bozeman fastest-growing MT metro + the substantial Bozeman Big Sky + Yellowstone Club calls-for-service growth), Helena Police Department (~55 sworn + state capital), Kalispell PD + Butte-Silver Bow PD (Butte consolidated city-county) + the substantial MT smaller municipal departments + Yellowstone County Sheriff Billings + Missoula County Sheriff + Cascade County Sheriff Great Falls + Gallatin County Sheriff Bozeman + Flathead County Sheriff Kalispell + the substantial MT rural sheriff offices, plus substantial federal law enforcement at FBI Salt Lake (covering MT) + DEA Billings + ATF + USMS + BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs (Crow + Northern Cheyenne + Flathead + Blackfeet + Fort Belknap + Fort Peck + Rocky Boy + Little Shell tribal jurisdiction) + the substantial Malmstrom AFB OSI + the substantial Glacier + Yellowstone NPS rangers.

Senior Officer / Sergeant (Billings PD)

$62,000–$92,000+ OT

Senior officer + sergeant at BPD · MPORS Municipal Police Officers Retirement · MEA-MFT collective bargaining · OT + detail

Senior Trooper (Montana Highway Patrol)

$62,000–$92,000+ OT

Senior trooper at MHP · Major Crime + SRT + K-9 + I-90 + I-94 + I-15 interstate + Bakken patrol

Senior Detective / Investigator

$65,000–$95,000+ OT

Senior detective at BPD + MHP + Missoula PD + Bozeman PD · investigations + casework + MPORS

Senior K-9 / Tactical Officer

$68,000–$98,000+ OT

K-9 handler + MHP SRT + BPD tactical · MT tactical specialty + hazard premium

Senior Federal Agent (FBI / DEA / ATF Billings)

$110,000–$185,000+

Senior federal agent · DEA Billings + ATF + USMS · LEAP availability pay

Senior BIA Officer (Crow / Flathead / Blackfeet)

$72,000–$118,000+ OT

BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs officer at MT tribal jurisdictions · federal law enforcement + tribal coordination

Senior NPS Ranger (Glacier / Yellowstone)

$58,000–$95,000+ OT

National Park Service ranger · Glacier NP + Yellowstone NP + Big Hole + Little Bighorn Battlefield

Senior Sheriff Deputy (Yellowstone / Gallatin)

$55,000–$82,000+ OT

Senior deputy at MT sheriff offices · patrol + corrections + court services + civil process

Mid-Career Officer (3-7 yrs)

$45,000–$62,000+ OT

Mid-career officer · MPORS membership · MT POST Public Safety Officer Standards & Training certified

New Officer (Post-Academy)

$42,000–$55,000+ OT

New officer · post-academy + field training · MT POST certified · MPORS at hire

Worth knowing: Montana Public Employees Retirement Administration MPERA + Municipal Police Officers Retirement System MPORS + MT NOT a Right-to-Work state + Crow + Flathead + Blackfeet BIA federal jurisdiction is the structural foundation of MT career police compensation and a distinctive MT police officer feature most national surveys understate. MPERA + MPORS (the MT statewide public pension covering ~50K active + retired MPERA members + the substantial MPORS Municipal Police Officers Retirement System + Sheriffs Retirement System SRS + Highway Patrol Officers HPO Retirement System + Firefighters Unified FURS + the substantial MPORS defined-benefit + the substantial MPORS post-2013 reform Tier 2 for new hires + the substantial MT funded ratio ~75-80%) provides defined-benefit protective service pension at MT public-safety formula appreciably more generous than MPERA General — supporting career police retirement after 20 years for MPORS (early retirement at age 50). MT recognizes public-sector collective bargaining (MT Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act + Montana Federation of Public Employees MFPE + MEA-MFT Montana Education Association-Montana Federation of Teachers + the substantial MT Public Safety Officers + Fraternal Order of Police FOP Montana + the substantial MT collective bargaining for public safety). MT is NOT a Right-to-Work state — meaning public-sector employees can have full collective bargaining rights including union security clauses. Crow + Northern Cheyenne + Flathead + Blackfeet + Fort Belknap + Fort Peck + Rocky Boy + Little Shell tribal lands (BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs federal law enforcement jurisdiction + the substantial BIA officer cluster + the substantial post-2020 BIA recruitment + the substantial BIA Pine Ridge-style officer compensation + the substantial federal officer pay grades) supports unique MT BIA federal officer specialty — senior BIA officers clear $72-118K + OT with GS-9 + GS-11 federal LEAP pay. National Park Service rangers (the substantial Glacier NP + Yellowstone NP MT portion + Bighorn Canyon NRA + Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument + Nez Perce NHP + the substantial NPS commissioned ranger LE) supports unique MT federal LE specialty. Post-2020 Billings + Bozeman + Missoula recruitment + retention challenges drove substantial signing bonus + retention bonus + lateral transfer incentives — Bozeman PD post-2022 offered $10K-$15K lateral signing bonuses driven by the substantial Bozeman housing supply tight + the substantial post-2020 Bozeman fastest-growing MT metro. The 2025 No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies through 2028 — MT OBBBA OT applies to officer overtime + detail . MT progressive 4.7%/5.9% + MT 0% sales tax + MT NO estate tax + MT NOT a RTW state + MPORS + MEA-MFT collective bargaining + BIA federal jurisdiction + NPS rangers anchor the MT police officer proposition.