Lawyer Salary in Missoula, MT: $105,213 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time lawyer in Missoula, MT earns a median $105,213/year (≈ $50.58/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Once you factor in Missoula's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.4), that paycheck buys what $109,091 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.6% below the Montana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the median annual salary for lawyers in Missoula, Montana, is projected to be $105,213, significantly lower than the national average of $167,174, highlighting a structural divide in the legal profession. The salary range for attorneys in the area extends from $66,411 at the 10th percentile to $184,366 at the 90th percentile, demonstrating a notable disparity among various practice settings. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, reflects the distinctions between BigLaw firms, mid-market, and small practices. While large firms in major metropolitan areas can offer substantially higher salaries reflective of the Cravath-scale starting salary benchmark, Missoula's legal market is characterized by a blend of regional firms and smaller practices that provide more balanced workload expectations alongside competitive compensation.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $66,411 | $31.93 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $93,382 | $44.90 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $105,213 | $50.58 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $132,383 | $63.65 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $184,366 | $88.64 |
Median Salary Position
37.06% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Missoula
In Missoula, MT, the lawyer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $117,955 (2026 est.). At $105,213, the local median is 37.06% below the national median of $167,174.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Missoula: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Missoula Lawyer Pay Compares
Missoula median: $105,213/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Missoula Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Average | $111,454 | -5.60% less |
| National Average | $167,174 | -37.06% less |
Lawyers in Missoula, MT earn a median of $105,213 per year (2026 est.), which is 37.06% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 5.60% below the Montana state average of $111,454.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Missoula has a cost of living 3.56% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Missoula, MT has a cost-of-living index of 96.445 (below the national average of 100). A lawyer earning $105,213 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $109,091 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.69% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,340
2025 BLS Actual
$100,490
2026 Current Est.
$105,213
2019–2027 Growth
+76.7%
Salary Trajectory for Lawyers in Missoula (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,340 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,220 | Actual |
| 2021 | $80,750 | Actual |
| 2022 | $84,770 | Actual |
| 2023 | $87,380 | Actual |
| 2024 | $99,490 | Actual |
| 2025 | $100,490 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $105,213 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $110,158 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Missoula metropolitan area, the median lawyer salary grew 61.2% from $62,340 (2019) to $100,490 (2025). At a 4.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $110,158 by 2027 — a total increase of $47,818 (76.71%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Missoula metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.70% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $66,411 – $93,382 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $93,382 – $105,213 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $105,213 – $132,383 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $132,383 – $184,366 |
Esq salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual lawyer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Lawyer Job Market in Missoula
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Missoula’s job market for legal professionals consists of approximately 490 employed lawyers, contributing to a vibrant but competitive landscape. Additionally, the cost-of-living index stands at 96.445, suggesting that take-home purchasing power may be greater than in other U.S. cities with higher living costs. Among the various employment sectors, boutique specialty firms and in-house corporate legal departments tend to pay more than public defender offices or legal aid organizations. Several factors drive the salary spread, including firm prestige, market location, and the traditional disparity between public and private sector pay. To maximize earning potential in Missoula, young attorneys should consider engaging with mid-sized and large regional firms, focusing on building strong billable hour metrics while participating in continuous professional development to enhance their value. Networking within legal circles can also reveal opportunities for advancement and increases in compensation, facilitating a more robust career trajectory in this evolving legal market.
More salary data for Missoula, MT:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alexandra Chen, JD
Career Analyst
Alexandra has 10 years of experience in corporate law. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions. Alexandra works at a mid-sized law firm in New York City.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $100,490 for lawyersin the Missoula metropolitan area. A 4.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.70%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for lawyers (SOC 23-1011).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Chen, JD, a licensed lawyer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov