Administrative Assistant salary in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area
For this job the Southwest Montana nonmetro area sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $46,060 a year1. That is 4.8% above the Montana statewide median of $43,940, and 3.1% below the US median of $47,540. Among US areas it comes in at #208 of 520. About 420 administrative assistants work here, 9% of the Montana total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area against Montana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | $30,050 | $46,060 | $54,680 | |
| Montana | $30,430 | $43,940 | $55,970 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $54,680, 1.8 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area earns $37,440–$50,470. The mean ($44,140) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $13,030 wide, between the figure for Montana ($11,240) and the US figure ($19,170).
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 | $30,050 | $2,504 | $14.45 | $38,774 |
| 25th percentile | $37,440 | $3,120 | $18.00 | $48,310 |
| Median | $46,060 | $3,838 | $22.14 | $59,432 |
| 75th percentile | $50,470 | $4,206 | $24.26 | $65,123 |
| 90th percentile | $54,680 | $4,557 | $26.29 | $70,555 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $4,410 over it, while the 25th sits $8,620 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $5,690 more a year with benefits. 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 median and the 75th percentile in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area, and the Montana statewide median of $43,940 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in the Southwest 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 $13,372 to the $46,060 median and brings it to $59,432 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 Southwest Montana nonmetro area
Of the 14 roles we track in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between executive assistants ($51,910) and bookkeepers ($45,760). Project Coordinator is the highest at $102,060.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +27.3% | 70 | |
| Executive Assistant | +12.7% | 50 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 420 | |
| Bookkeeper | -0.7% | 550 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -4.2% | 360 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #4 of the 14 roles we track in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area (-3.1%), between customer support specialists (-1.4%) and marketing specialists (-3.7%). The typical role here is at -6.4%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 14.5% of the jobs in these 14 roles in the Southwest 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. Of the 6 areas in Montana with more administrative assistants than the Southwest Montana nonmetro area, 4 pay less, the largest of them the West Montana nonmetro area ($40,340), the East-Central Montana nonmetro area ($40,060) and Billings, MT ($43,680).
| Area | Median | vs the Southwest Montana nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, MT | +3.5% | 480 | |
| Bozeman, MT | +3.0% | 520 | |
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | this area | 420 | |
| Billings, MT | -5.2% | 730 | |
| Great Falls, MT | -5.8% | 300 | |
| Missoula, MT | -7.7% | 480 | |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | -12.4% | 770 |
the Southwest Montana nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Southwest Montana nonmetro area is #486 of 520 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Montana, Huntsville and Utica-Rome pay just above the Southwest Montana nonmetro area and Las Vegas-Henderson and Flagstaff just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Southwest Montana nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longview-Kelso, WA | +25.0% | 430 | jobs | |
| Utica-Rome, NY | +0.1% | 1,490 | pay | |
| Huntsville, AL | +0.1% | 4,700 | pay | |
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | this area | 420 | ||
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV | -0.0% | 11,080 | pay | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | -0.1% | 550 | pay | |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | -11.6% | 430 | jobs | |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | -20.8% | 430 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Southwest Montana (Nonmetro)?
About $59,432 a year at the median, or $4,953 a month: $46,060 in pay plus about $13,372 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area?
The median was $46,060 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,050, the 90th $54,680, and the middle half earned $37,440 to $50,470.
Is the Southwest Montana nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Montana for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $46,060 against $43,940 statewide. The next area up in Montana is Bozeman at $47,420, the next down Billings at $43,680.
How many administrative assistants work in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 420 in the May 2025 survey. That is 9% of the Montana total of 4,520. 6 areas in Montana have more; the closest in size is Missoula, with about 480.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a bookkeeper in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area?
Yes: $300 a year more at the median. The medians are $46,060 and $45,760.
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.