Accountant salary in the West Montana nonmetro area
The West Montana nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $73,000 a year1 is 3.7% below the Montana statewide median of $75,810, and 12.8% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #384 of 521. About 640 accountants work here, 14% of the Montana total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area West Montana nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the West Montana nonmetro area against Montana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | $48,160 | $73,000 | $137,530 | |
| Montana | $49,250 | $75,810 | $125,290 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $137,530 or more, 2.9 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of accountants in the West Montana nonmetro area earns $61,610–$97,870. The mean ($85,540) is 17% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $36,260 wide, between the figure for Montana ($35,630) and the US figure ($42,790).
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,160 | $4,013 | $23.15 | $62,142 |
| 25th percentile | $61,610 | $5,134 | $29.62 | $79,497 |
| Median | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35.10 | $94,194 |
| 75th percentile | $97,870 | $8,156 | $47.05 | $126,284 |
| 90th percentile | $137,530 | $11,461 | $66.12 | $177,458 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $24,870 over the median, the 25th only $11,390 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $32,090 a year in employer cost. 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 the West Montana nonmetro area, and the Montana statewide median of $75,810 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the West Montana nonmetro area
At the $73,000 median, a local hire costs about $94,194 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $21,194 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
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Other roles in the West Montana nonmetro area
Of the 14 roles we track in the West Montana nonmetro area, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($75,940); marketing specialists come next at $66,220.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +4.0% | 390 | |
| Accountant | this role | 640 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -9.3% | 150 | |
| Recruiter | -14.7% | 350 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -17.9% | 230 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #5 of the 14 roles we track in the West Montana nonmetro area (-12.8%), between bookkeepers (-7.6%) and office managers (-14.1%). The typical role here is at -14.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 9.2% of the jobs in these 14 roles in the West Montana nonmetro area, 11.4% across Montana and 9.3% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
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. All 2 areas in Montana with more accountants than the West Montana nonmetro area also pay more, among them Bozeman, MT ($77,400) and Billings, MT ($75,780).
| Area | Median | vs the West Montana nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, MT | +5.1% | 580 | |
| Billings, MT | +3.8% | 790 | |
| East-Central Montana (Nonmetro) | +2.1% | 420 | |
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | +1.8% | 320 | |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | this area | 640 | |
| Missoula, MT | -0.1% | 600 | |
| Great Falls, MT | -0.7% | 280 |
the West Montana nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West Montana nonmetro area is #299 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Montana, Springfield and State College pay just above the West Montana nonmetro area and Lima and Tyler just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in the West Montana nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West Montana nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction, CO | +5.3% | 640 | jobs | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +5.0% | 630 | jobs | |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | +2.6% | 640 | jobs | |
| State College, PA | +0.1% | 460 | pay | |
| Springfield, MO | +0.0% | 2,070 | pay | |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | this area | 640 | ||
| Lima, OH | -0.0% | 300 | pay | |
| Tyler, TX | -0.1% | 800 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in West Montana (Nonmetro)?
About $94,194 a year at the median, or $7,849 a month: $73,000 in pay plus about $21,194 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in the West Montana nonmetro area?
The median was $73,000 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,160, the 90th $137,530, and the middle half earned $61,610 to $97,870.
Is the West Montana nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Montana for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $73,000 against $75,810 statewide. The next area up in Montana is the Southwest Montana nonmetro area at $74,320, the next down Missoula at $72,920.
How many accountants work in the West Montana nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 640 in the May 2025 survey. That is 14% of the Montana total of 4,730. Only Bozeman and Billings have more in Montana.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in the West Montana nonmetro area?
Yes: $6,780 a year more at the median. The medians are $73,000 and $66,220.
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.