How much is the registered nurse vs nurse manager pay gap in Montana?

The estimated gap in Montana is about $26,920 a year, or roughly 30% more for nurse managers. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these Montana figures exact?

No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Montana wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Montana's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.

Why are some figures verified and others estimates?

National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Montana · MT

Registered Nurse vs Nurse Manager salary in Montana

In Montana, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $116,670 a year versus $89,750 for registered nurses, a gap of about $26,920 (roughly 30% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Montana.

Registered Nurse — Montana

Estimated

Median annual pay

$89,750

-8% vs national

Hourly

$43.15/hr

Median $89,750

$63,420Middle 50%: $73,900–$103,360$126,470

Typical range: $73,900–$103,360; What most nurses earn
High end: $126,470; Top earners
Entry level: $63,420; Newer nurses

Nurse Manager — Montana

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$116,670

-8% vs national

Hourly

$56.09/hr

Median $116,670

$82,450Middle 50%: $96,070–$134,370$164,410

Typical range: $96,070–$134,370; What most nurses earn
High end: $164,410; Top earners
Entry level: $82,450; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Montana

Nurse managers generally out-earn staff registered nurses, reflecting a salaried leadership role with responsibility for a unit's staffing, budget, and outcomes. The trade-off is fewer bedside hours, on-call administrative duties, and less overtime — so total pay depends on how much a staff RN picks up in shifts and differentials. The Montana figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Montana's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Registered Nurse vs Nurse Manager comparison or personalize the calculator.

Registered Nurse vs Nurse Manager in Montana — FAQ

Do registered nurses or nurse managers earn more in Montana?: In Montana, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $116,670 a year versus $89,750 for registered nurses, a gap of about $26,920 (roughly 30% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Montana's local pay level.
How much is the registered nurse vs nurse manager pay gap in Montana?: The estimated gap in Montana is about $26,920 a year, or roughly 30% more for nurse managers. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these Montana figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Montana wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Montana's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
Why are some figures verified and others estimates?: National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Source & confidence— An estimate based on national nurse pay and local cost of living. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.

Modeled estimate (BLS national × state wage index)

Montana figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 0.92×).

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Montana. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.