.NET Developer Salary in Missoula: $65,000-$110,000 (2026)

Missoula’s cost-of-living index (~95) means everyday expenses are modestly below the U. S.

average, which directly improves disposable income for a . NET developer.

Rent for a one-bedroom in central Missoula typically ranges $900–$1,300/month (with suburbs lower), compared with $1,800+ in many coastal tech hubs. Median single-family home prices remain below national metro medians, though they have trended upward as remote workers and Montana relocators arrive.

Commute costs tend to be lower because traffic is light and average commutes are under 20 minutes — you’ll save on fuel and vehicle wear than in larger metros. Groceries, utilities, and basic services are near or slightly below national averages.

For a mid-level . NET developer earning around $80k, housing consumes a smaller share of income than in Seattle or San Francisco, enabling faster savings, more discretionary spending on outdoor lifestyle, or investment in training/certification.

However, specialized device or luxury goods may still cost more due to shipping to a smaller market.

Salaries for . NET developers in Missoula land in the moderate range due to the city’s employer mix and talent pool.

Large private-sector tech giants are absent, so most roles come from the University of Montana (research projects and internal IT), regional healthcare providers implementing EHR and integrations, financial institutions/credit unions with in-house development, and local consultancies that contract with clients nationwide. These employers pay competitive local wages but generally below national big-tech offers.

Economic drivers include steady healthcare IT spending, periodic university research grants (which fund temporary dev roles), and growth in boutique software firms that require full-stack . NET skills.

Limited local labor supply keeps salaries from stagnating too low, but absence of scaleable SaaS headquarters caps the top-end salaries. Seasonal hiring spikes happen when healthcare systems upgrade systems or consultancies take on larger remote contracts.

Compared to Bozeman, Spokane, and Helena, Missoula offers a balance of quality of life and compensation. Bozeman tends to pay higher (~$95k for .

NET roles) but has a higher COL (~106) driven by tourism-driven housing demand; relocating there makes sense if you prioritize higher cash compensation and don’t mind higher housing costs. Spokane (salary ~$92k, COL ~100) is a reasonable regional alternative with larger employer pools and more corporate IT teams—commuting from Missoula isn’t practical daily, but remote or hybrid arrangements between cities are common.

Helena’s salaries are slightly lower (~$82k) with similar COL; it may offer state-government roles but fewer private software opportunities. For Missoula .

NET developers, commuting to these cities is usually not daily; instead consider remote work with a Bozeman or Spokane firm, or relocate if you need faster salary growth or larger enterprise exposure. Remote-first roles also allow Missoula residents to capture higher coastal pay while maintaining lower living costs, though some companies adjust pay for location.

Entry-level . NET developers (0–2 years) in Missoula usually start on internal IT projects, maintenance of legacy .

NET Framework applications, or as junior members of consultancy teams. Expect salaries near $60k with rapid skill-driven increases if you gain experience in ASP.

NET Core, cloud (Azure), SQL Server and CI/CD. Mid-level (3–7 years) engineers who own feature development, integration projects (EHR or financial systems), and cloud deployments can reach ~$80k; growth accelerators include Microsoft certifications, Azure cloud experience, and full-stack skills (React/Angular + .

NET backend). Senior engineers (8+ years) who lead teams, design architectures, or manage client-facing projects command up to $105k or more—those who shift into product/SaaS leadership or remote senior roles for out-of-state firms can exceed local top ranges.

Local mentorship, contributions to university projects, or leading cross-organizational integrations shorten time-to-senior level.

When negotiating as a . NET developer in Missoula, use the local mid-range ($80k) as an anchor: entry hires should target $60k–$70k, mid-level $75k–$90k, and senior $95k–$115k depending on cloud and leadership experience.

Emphasize Azure/Azure DevOps, ASP. NET Core, and integration experience with healthcare or financial systems—those skills justify a premium.

If a company cites local budget constraints, negotiate for non-salary compensation that has high value in Missoula: flexible/remote days, paid training/certifications, extra PTO for outdoor season, relocation assistance, and employer-funded health plans with low premiums. Many regional employers are open to hybrid remote arrangements; if you can show success with remote work for higher-paying out-of-state clients, use that leverage.

Cultural notes: smaller local firms value fit and community involvement, so demonstrate reliability, long-term intent, and local references to strengthen your bargaining position.