Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at Montana Technological University
MT · Associate's Degree · CIP 52.04
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Business Operations Support and Assistant Services degree from Montana Technological University earn a median salary of $36,215 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $34,789. The degree typically pays for itself in 42.9 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$25,022
Typical Career
$36,215
Top Performers
$47,119
Estimated break-even: 42.9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$241
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,018. Most students can comfortably afford about a $241 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 0.9x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Montana buys what costs $1.04 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$34,789
Nominal: $36,215 in Montana (COL 104.1% of national avg) · 3.9% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $23,838 | $29,904 | $36,399 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $25,022 | $36,215 | $47,119 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $31,758 | $44,060 | $53,767 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $36,215 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MT, which has a cost-of-living index of 104.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $36,215 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0410)
= $34,789 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries employing graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (43.0%), Construction (34.4%), and Utilities (19.8%). While these sectors offer substantial employment opportunities, the estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 42.9 years, suggesting a long-term return on investment may be limited. Students should weigh these factors carefully when considering their career trajectory in relation to the financial and professional benefits of this degree.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.