Prompt Engineer.
Billings.
$128,000
median salary, 9% below the national average
$92,000 to $174,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what Prompt Engineers actually make in Billings: $92,000 at the 25th percentile, $128,000 at the median, and $174,000 at the 75th. That is 9% below the national average. Billings is Montana's largest city and economic hub, driven by energy, agriculture, and healthcare. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $115,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$83,000
to $102,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$109,000
to $134,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$141,000
to $166,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$160,000
to $198,000
Salary trend
+10% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $59,000 to the total package.
Base
$128,000
Equity
$36,000
Bonus
$15,000
Signing
$8,000
Estimated total: $187,000
Prompt Engineer salary by company
Total compensation estimates include base, equity, bonus, and signing. Ranges reflect mid to senior level. Derived from public H-1B LCA filings, SEC proxy statements, and aggregated self-reported data.
How Billings compares
Billings, MT
$128,000
Cost of living: 11% below average
National Average
$140,000
Billings is $12,000 below
Prompt Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Billings
What you should know
If you are interviewing for Prompt Engineer roles in Billings, here is what you are walking into. Billings is Montana's largest city and economic hub, driven by energy, agriculture, and healthcare. The city serves as a regional center for the Northern Plains. Remote work has brought a wave of tech professionals seeking Montana's quality of life, gradually diversifying the local job market. This is an emerging role where compensation varies widely based on the employer's AI maturity and the scope of work. Engineers who combine prompting expertise with evaluation methodology, safety testing, and fine tuning skills earn the most. Experience with structured output generation, chain of thought reasoning, and multi agent orchestration drives premium compensation.
Entry level prompt engineers start at $90,000 to $120,000, though the field is new enough that levels are still being defined. Mid level roles earn $130,000 to $170,000. Senior prompt engineers earn $170,000 to $220,000. The career path typically evolves into AI product management, AI safety, or LLM engineering. In Billings, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 11% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity is significant at AI companies, adding $20,000 to $80,000+ annually. Bonuses of 10 to 20% are typical. The role is new enough that benefits packages vary considerably. Some companies categorize prompt engineers under research, offering publication support and conference budgets. And on the tax side: montana has a top income tax rate of 5.9% but no state sales tax. Billings has no city income tax. The no sales tax benefit helps offset the state income tax. When someone quotes you $128,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate remote work arrangements. Billings employers are increasingly open to remote and hybrid setups to attract talent from larger metros. The range for Prompt Engineers in Billings runs from $92,000 to $174,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Conversational AI Designer in Billings earns $127,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Billings is Chief AI Officer at $287,000
Common questions.
Prompt Engineer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Billings
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.