Lawyer Salaries in Montana

$96,000 Average Salary
46% Below National Average
$85K Median
$135K Top 10%
$55K Entry Level
$176K National Avg
Montana Lawyer Salary Snapshot
  • Average: $96,000 (-46% below national)
  • Career Range: $54,869 (Entry) → $189,000 (Partner)
  • Highest-Paying: Patent Law ($134K)
  • Top Employers: BigLaw ($159K), In-House ($105K)
  • vs Nearby: Higher than Wyoming ; Below Washington, Idaho

Montana offers small-town practice with exceptional outdoor access. Energy, natural resources, and agricultural law predominate. Remote work trends have increased migration.

Last updated: January 2025 • Source: BLS, NALP

Salary by Experience in Montana

How lawyer salaries grow with experience

0-2 years
Entry Level
$54,869
Median: $46K
3-5 years
Mid-Level
$78,300
Median: $69K
6-10 years
Senior
$105,300
Median: $93K
10+ years
Partner
$189,000
Median: $154K
Career Growth Potential

Lawyers in Montana can expect a 244% salary increase from entry-level to partner. Starting at $54,869, experienced partners earn $189,000 or more.

Salary by Firm Type in Montana

Compare compensation across different employer types

BigLaw (500+ attorneys)
$159,300
Entry: $122K Senior: $235K
Top 100 firms with offices nationwide
Midsize (50-500 attorneys)
$99,900
Entry: $84K Senior: $149K
Regional and specialty boutique firms
Small Firm (2-49 attorneys)
$59,400
Entry: $41K Senior: $89K
Local and small practice firms
Solo Practice
$45,900
Entry: $27K Senior: $81K
Self-employed attorneys
In-House Counsel
$105,300
Entry: $62K Senior: $172K
Corporate legal departments
Government
$52,920
Entry: $35K Senior: $80K
Federal, state, and local agencies
Public Interest
$38,880
Entry: $30K Senior: $51K
Non-profit and legal aid organizations
BigLaw vs Government Trade-off

In Montana, BigLaw pays $106,380 more than government roles ($159,300 vs $52,920). However, government attorneys may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and often enjoy better work-life balance.

Salary by Practice Area in Montana

Find the highest-paying legal specialties

💡 Patent Law $134K Entry: $78K | Senior: $205K 🤝 Mergers & Acquisitions $125K Entry: $81K | Senior: $216K ⚖ Antitrust Law $122K Entry: $78K | Senior: $205K 📈 Securities Law $116K Entry: $76K | Senior: $194K 🏛 Corporate Law $112K Entry: $73K | Senior: $189K © Intellectual Property $108K Entry: $68K | Senior: $173K 🏦 Banking & Finance $107K Entry: $70K | Senior: $181K 🔒 Privacy & Data Protection $100K Entry: $62K | Senior: $159K ⚖ Privacy & Data Protection $100K Entry: $62K | Senior: $159K 💻 Cybersecurity Law $96K Entry: $59K | Senior: $154K 📊 Tax Law $95K Entry: $59K | Senior: $151K ⚖ Energy Law $95K Entry: $59K | Senior: $151K 🌐 International Law $93K Entry: $57K | Senior: $149K 🎬 Entertainment Law $91K Entry: $46K | Senior: $149K ⚖ International Trade Law $91K Entry: $57K | Senior: $146K 🏥 Healthcare Law $89K Entry: $54K | Senior: $143K ⚖ Government Contracts $89K Entry: $54K | Senior: $143K 📉 Bankruptcy Law $84K Entry: $51K | Senior: $135K ⚖ Aviation Law $84K Entry: $51K | Senior: $132K 🩺 Medical Malpractice $80K Entry: $41K | Senior: $130K ⚖ Maritime Law $80K Entry: $48K | Senior: $127K 🔨 Litigation $80K Entry: $51K | Senior: $135K 👔 Employment Law $77K Entry: $48K | Senior: $124K ⚖ Sports Law $77K Entry: $41K | Senior: $127K 🏠 Real Estate $75K Entry: $46K | Senior: $119K 🏗 Construction Law $75K Entry: $44K | Senior: $119K 🌿 Environmental Law $73K Entry: $44K | Senior: $116K 🛒 Insurance Law $69K Entry: $42K | Senior: $111K 🩹 Personal Injury $68K Entry: $35K | Senior: $108K 📜 Estate Planning $58K Entry: $33K | Senior: $95K ⚖ Education Law $57K Entry: $33K | Senior: $89K 👪 Family Law $56K Entry: $31K | Senior: $89K 🚓 Criminal Law $53K Entry: $28K | Senior: $84K 🏛 Government/Public Sector $53K Entry: $35K | Senior: $80K 🧰 Workers Compensation $53K Entry: $31K | Senior: $84K ⚖ Criminal Defense $53K Entry: $28K | Senior: $84K 👴 Elder Law $50K Entry: $30K | Senior: $78K ⚖ Civil Rights Law $48K Entry: $28K | Senior: $78K 🌍 Immigration Law $46K Entry: $30K | Senior: $76K
Practice Area Comparison

In Montana, Patent Law lawyers earn $87,583 more than Immigration Law attorneys on average ($134,058 vs $46,475). Specializing in high-demand areas can significantly impact lifetime earnings.

Montana Legal Market Facts

Key statistics about the legal industry in this state

💼 3,500+ Licensed Attorneys
🏫 1 ABA Law Schools
📍 Billings Largest Legal Market
📈 96% Cost of Living Index

Law School ROI in Montana

How long to pay off student loans by career path

💰 $130,000 Avg Law School Debt
⏱ 9 years To Pay Off at State Avg
📅 $1,480/mo Standard Payment
Payoff Timeline by Career Path
BigLaw $159K
5.4 yrs
In-House $105K
8.2 yrs
Government $53K
16.4 yrs PSLF eligible
At Montana's average salary of $96,000, you can pay off $130K in student loans in approximately 9 years while allocating 15% of your income to debt repayment.

Compare to Nearby States

How Montana compares to neighboring states

Montana Current
$96K
Washington
$148K +54%
Idaho
$100K +4%
North Dakota
$97K +1%
Wyoming
$95K -1%
🏠
Cost of Living Context

Montana offers a cost of living 4% below the national average, making salaries go further. Median home price: $430,000 - significantly lower than coastal states.

Frequently Asked Questions

The average lawyer salary in Montana is $96,000, which is 46% below the national average of $176,470. Salaries range from $54,869 for entry-level positions to $189,000 or more for senior partners.

Patent Law is the highest-paying legal specialty in Montana, with an average salary of $134,058. Entry-level patent law attorneys start around $78,300, while senior attorneys can earn $205,200 or more.

First-year lawyers in Montana earn an average of $54,869. However, this varies significantly by employer type: BigLaw firms pay $121,500+, while small firms and government positions typically start around $35,100 to $40,500.

Major BigLaw firms in Montana typically match the Cravath scale, starting at $225,000 for first-year associates. The adjusted average BigLaw salary in Montana is approximately $159,300, reflecting local cost of living and market conditions.

Montana ranks below average for lawyer salaries among nearby states. The average of $96,000 is 46% lower than compared to Washington ($148K), Idaho ($100K), North Dakota ($97K).

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