Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Retail Salesperson Salary in Billings, MT

Retail Salespersons in the Billings, MT metro area earn a median $35,760 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,989 take-home, or $2,499 a month.

Median salary
$35,760
$17.19 per hour
Typical range
$28,610 – $48,170
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Billings, MT
2,900
1.23× national concentration
▲3.1%
Pay trend: The median for retail salespersons in Billings, MT rose from $34,670 (May 2024) to $35,760 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 0.7%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in Billings, MT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Retail Salesperson in Billings, MT
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$29,989
per year · effective tax rate 16.1%
$2,499Monthly
$1,250Twice a month
$1,153Every 2 weeks
$14.42Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,111
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,217
  • Medicare (1.45%)$519
  • Montana income tax$924
  • Take-home pay$29,989

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Retail Salesperson pay by experience in Billings, MT

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$28,610$13.75$24,580$2,048
25th percentile$29,890$14.37$25,548$2,129
Median (50th)$35,760$17.19$29,989$2,499
75th percentile$40,650$19.54$33,688$2,807
90th percentile (top earners)$48,170$23.16$39,377$3,281

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Montana resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $35,760 buys in Billings, MT

Prices in Billings, MT are 6.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median retail salesperson's $29,989 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,065 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,102
44% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,409
56% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,397
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Billings, MT has 1.2× the national concentration of retail salesperson jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.

Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living

Billings, MT ranks #11 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Fargo, ND $35,860$30,994$34,107
2St. Cloud, MN $34,860$29,144$33,257
3Yakima, WA $36,640$31,620$33,095
4Sioux Falls, SD $34,600$29,981$33,080
5Rochester, MN $36,000$29,999$33,030
6San Jose, CA $44,220$36,378$32,944
7Duluth, MN $34,650$28,986$32,654
8Rapid City, SD $33,350$28,977$32,500
11Billings, MT$35,760$29,989$32,065

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →

About the job: retail salespersons

Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

Typical education
No formal educational credential
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
-0.3% (slower than average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a retail salesperson make in Billings, MT?

The median retail salesperson salary in the Billings, MT metro area is $35,760 a year, or about $17.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,890 and $40,650.

What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in Billings, MT?

On the median $35,760 salary, a single filer living in Montana takes home about $29,989 a year ($2,499 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $924 in Montana taxes in 2026.

Is Billings, MT a good place to work as a retail salesperson?

Pay here is 1% above the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 6.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,065 would in a typical U.S. city. Billings, MT ranks #11 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Billings, MT?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Billings, MT is $1,102 a month ($1,409 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

Cost of living & all salaries in Billings, MT →