Administrative Assistant salary in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area
The East-Central Montana nonmetro area is the least expensive place in Montana to hire an administrative assistant. The median is $40,060 a year1, 8.8% below the Montana statewide median of $43,940 and 15.7% below the US median of $47,540. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#407 of 520). BLS counts about 740 people in this job here, 16% of the Montana total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area against Montana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East-Central Montana (Nonmetro) | $28,520 | $40,060 | $51,580 | |
| Montana | $30,430 | $43,940 | $55,970 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area earns $36,020–$45,780. The top tenth earns $51,580 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $9,760 wide, against $11,240 across Montana and $19,170 nationally: employers in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an administrative assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,520 | $2,377 | $13.71 | $36,800 |
| 25th percentile | $36,020 | $3,002 | $17.32 | $46,477 |
| Median | $40,060 | $3,338 | $19.26 | $51,690 |
| 75th percentile | $45,780 | $3,815 | $22.01 | $59,071 |
| 90th percentile | $51,580 | $4,298 | $24.80 | $66,555 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,040 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,720, or about $7,381 once benefits are added. 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 $47,540 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area, and the Montana statewide median of $43,940 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local administrative assistants earn.
What a hire really costs in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area
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 $11,630 to the $40,060 median and brings it to $51,690 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 administrative assistants 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 the East-Central Montana nonmetro area
Of the 14 roles we track in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area, this one ranks #13 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($40,200) and virtual receptionists ($37,440). Project Coordinator is the highest at $79,920.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +15.7% | 940 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +11.3% | 290 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +0.3% | 390 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 740 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -6.5% | 170 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #10 of the 14 roles we track in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area (-15.7%), between medical administrative assistants (-12.5%) and recruiters (-18.6%). The typical role here is at -11.4%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost less in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 17.6% of the jobs in these 14 roles in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area, 10.9% across Montana and 11.0% 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 $40,060 in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area to $47,670 in Helena, a gap of $7,610 a year. The one area in Montana with more administrative assistants, the West Montana nonmetro area ($40,340), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs the East-Central Montana nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | +18.4% | 520 | |
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | +15.0% | 420 | |
| Billings, MT | +9.0% | 730 | |
| Great Falls, MT | +8.3% | 300 | |
| Missoula, MT | +6.1% | 480 | |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | +0.7% | 770 | |
| East-Central Montana (Nonmetro) | this area | 740 |
the East-Central Montana nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the East-Central Montana nonmetro area is #383 of 520 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Montana, Johnson City and Bowling Green pay just above the East-Central Montana nonmetro area and Idaho Falls and Terre Haute just below. All four are within $160 a year of the median in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the East-Central Montana nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | +19.6% | 750 | jobs | |
| Saginaw, MI | +11.2% | 740 | jobs | |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | +2.7% | 740 | jobs | |
| Bowling Green, KY | +0.3% | 780 | pay | |
| Johnson City, TN | +0.0% | 1,030 | pay | |
| East-Central Montana (Nonmetro) | this area | 740 | ||
| Idaho Falls, ID | -0.4% | 740 | pay | |
| Terre Haute, IN | -0.4% | 490 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in East-Central Montana (Nonmetro)?
About $51,690 a year at the median, or $4,308 a month: $40,060 in pay plus about $11,630 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $40,060 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,520, the 90th $51,580, and the middle half earned $36,020 to $45,780.
Is the East-Central Montana nonmetro area the cheapest area in Montana for administrative assistants?
Yes. Its median of $40,060 is the lowest of 8 areas in Montana. The West Montana nonmetro area is next at $40,340.
How many administrative assistants work in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 740 in the May 2025 survey. That is 16% of the Montana total of 4,520. Only the West Montana nonmetro area has more in Montana.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a virtual receptionist in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,620 a year more at the median. The medians are $40,060 and $37,440.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6014: 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.