Accountant salary in Helena, MT
For this job Helena sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $76,700 a year1. That is 1.2% above the Montana statewide median of $75,810, and 8.3% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #254 of 521. About 580 accountants work here, 12% of the Montana total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Helena, MT. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Helena against Montana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, MT | $50,280 | $76,700 | $105,890 | |
| Montana | $49,250 | $75,810 | $125,290 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Helena earns $63,940–$90,320. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $105,890, only 2.1 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $26,380 wide, against $35,630 across Montana and $42,790 nationally: employers in Helena pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,280 | $4,190 | $24.17 | $64,877 |
| 25th percentile | $63,940 | $5,328 | $30.74 | $82,503 |
| Median | $76,700 | $6,392 | $36.88 | $98,968 |
| 75th percentile | $90,320 | $7,527 | $43.42 | $116,542 |
| 90th percentile | $105,890 | $8,824 | $50.91 | $136,632 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $13,620 a year in pay and about $17,574 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $12,760 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Helena, and the Montana statewide median of $75,810 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Helena
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $22,268 to the $76,700 median and brings it to $98,968 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Helena
Of the 14 roles we track in Helena, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between recruiters ($78,020) and marketing specialists ($65,820). Project Coordinator is the highest at $102,970.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +34.3% | 340 | |
| Recruiter | +1.7% | 280 | |
| Accountant | this role | 580 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -14.2% | 130 | |
| Paralegal | -16.3% | 170 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #10 of the 14 roles we track in Helena (-8.3%), between office managers (-8.3%) and bookkeepers (-9.5%). The typical role here is at -2.4%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost less in Helena than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 14.3% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Helena, 11.5% across Montana and 9.3% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Montana
Across the 8 areas of Montana with data for this job, the median runs from $72,510 in Great Falls to $77,400 in Bozeman, a gap of $4,890 a year. Of the 4 areas in Montana with more accountants than Helena, 3 pay less: Billings, MT ($75,780), the West Montana nonmetro area ($73,000) and Missoula, MT ($72,920).
| Area | Median | vs Helena | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | +0.9% | 800 | |
| Helena, MT | this area | 580 | |
| Billings, MT | -1.2% | 790 | |
| East-Central Montana (Nonmetro) | -2.9% | 420 | |
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | -3.1% | 320 | |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | -4.8% | 640 | |
| Missoula, MT | -4.9% | 600 |
Helena against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Helena is #319 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Montana, Boise City and Augusta-Richmond County pay just above Helena and Beaumont-Port Arthur and Chattanooga just below. All four are within $20 a year of the median in Helena. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Helena | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | +15.1% | 580 | jobs | |
| Winchester, VA-WV | +1.3% | 590 | jobs | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | +0.0% | 1,280 | pay | |
| Boise City, ID | +0.0% | 3,140 | pay | |
| Helena, MT | this area | 580 | ||
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | -0.0% | 840 | pay | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | -0.0% | 1,940 | pay | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | -1.0% | 570 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Helena, MT?
About $98,968 a year at the median, or $8,247 a month: $76,700 in pay plus about $22,268 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Helena?
The median was $76,700 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $50,280, the 90th $105,890, and the middle half earned $63,940 to $90,320.
Is Helena cheaper than the rest of Montana for accountants?
No, it costs more: a median of $76,700 against $75,810 statewide. The next area up in Montana is Bozeman at $77,400, the next down Billings at $75,780.
How many accountants work in Helena?
BLS counts about 580 in the May 2025 survey. That is 12% of the Montana total of 4,730. 4 areas in Montana have more; the closest in size is Missoula, with about 600.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in Helena?
Yes: $10,880 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,700 and $65,820.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.