StafkaFind workPost a jobSign inGet 3 candidates

Administrative Assistant salary in the West Montana nonmetro area

Hiring an administrative assistant costs less in the West Montana nonmetro area than in Montana or the country as a whole. The median is $40,340 a year1: 8.2% below the Montana statewide median of $43,940 and 15.1% below the US median of $47,540. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#398 of 520). With about 770 administrative assistants, 17% of the Montana total, no area in Montana employs more.

$3,362median pay per month in the West Montana nonmetro area
$4,338employer cost per month with benefits
$19.39median pay per hour
770people in this job in the West Montana nonmetro area

BLS occupation 43-6014, 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

Range10thMedian90th
West Montana (Nonmetro)$28,290$40,340$52,920
Montana$30,430$43,940$55,970
United States$33,280$47,540$66,350
10th to 90th percentilemiddle half (25th to 75th)median

The middle half of administrative assistants in the West Montana nonmetro area earns $36,240–$47,000. The top tenth earns $52,920 or more, 1.9 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 $10,760 wide, against $11,240 across Montana and $19,170 nationally: employers in the West Montana nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.

What to budget for an administrative assistant here

Point in the local rangePer yearPer monthPer hourEmployer cost per year
10th percentile$28,290$2,358$13.60$36,503
25th percentile$36,240$3,020$17.42$46,761
Median$40,340$3,362$19.39$52,052
75th percentile$47,000$3,917$22.60$60,645
90th percentile$52,920$4,410$25.44$68,284

Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $6,660 over the median, the 25th only $4,100 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $8,594 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 $47,540 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in the West 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 West Montana nonmetro area

At the $40,340 median, a local hire costs about $52,052 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,712 here. 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.

$52,052local hire, first year incl. benefits
$13,888remote hire, first year incl. fee
$38,164difference in year one
73%of the local cost saved

Other roles in the West Montana nonmetro area

Of the 14 roles we track in the West Montana nonmetro area, this one ranks #13 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($43,080) and virtual receptionists ($35,990). Project Coordinator is the highest at $75,940.

The 5 roles closest in pay. All 14 roles in West Montana (Nonmetro)
RoleMedianvs administrative assistantJobs
Bookkeeper
$46,830
+16.1%1,380
Customer Support Specialist
$43,420
+7.6%800
Medical Administrative Assistant
$43,080
+6.8%940
Administrative Assistant
$40,340
this role770
Virtual Receptionist
$35,990
-10.8%210

Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #8 of the 14 roles we track in the West Montana nonmetro area (-15.1%), between sales development representatives (-14.3%) and payroll specialists (-15.7%). The typical role here is at -14.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 11.1% of the jobs in these 14 roles in the West Montana nonmetro area, 10.9% across Montana and 11.0% 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 $40,060 in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area to $47,670 in Helena, a gap of $7,610 a year. No other area in Montana has as many administrative assistants, and 1 of the other 7 pays less.

AreaMedianvs the West Montana nonmetro areaJobs
Bozeman, MT
$47,420
+17.6%520
Southwest Montana (Nonmetro)
$46,060
+14.2%420
Billings, MT
$43,680
+8.3%730
Great Falls, MT
$43,400
+7.6%300
Missoula, MT
$42,500
+5.4%480
West Montana (Nonmetro)
$40,340
this area770
East-Central Montana (Nonmetro)
$40,060
-0.7%740

the West Montana nonmetro area against other US metro areas

By number of jobs, the West Montana nonmetro area is #376 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, San Angelo and Ocala pay just above the West Montana nonmetro area and Lake Charles and Montgomery just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in the West Montana nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, one pays more.

Metro areaMedianvs the West Montana nonmetro areaJobsClose in
Wheeling, WV-OH
$42,200
+4.6%770jobs
Ocala, FL
$40,370
+0.1%1,270pay
San Angelo, TX
$40,360
+0.0%570pay
West Montana (Nonmetro)
$40,340
this area770
Lake Charles, LA
$40,260
-0.2%1,390pay
Montgomery, AL
$40,260
-0.2%4,060pay
Bowling Green, KY
$40,180
-0.4%780jobs
Hammond, LA
$35,880
-11.1%790jobs

Questions

How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in West Montana (Nonmetro)?

About $52,052 a year at the median, or $4,338 a month: $40,340 in pay plus about $11,712 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.

What is the pay range for administrative assistants in the West Montana nonmetro area?

Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $40,340 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,290, the 90th $52,920, and the middle half earned $36,240 to $47,000.

Is the West Montana nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Montana for administrative assistants?

Yes, it costs less: a median of $40,340 against $43,940 statewide. The next area up in Montana is Missoula at $42,500, the next down the East-Central Montana nonmetro area at $40,060.

How many administrative assistants work in the West Montana nonmetro area?

BLS counts about 770 in the May 2025 survey. That is 17% of the Montana total of 4,520. No other area in Montana has as many.

Does an administrative assistant cost more than a virtual receptionist in the West Montana nonmetro area?

Yes: $4,350 a year more at the median. The medians are $40,340 and $35,990.

Sources

4 sources, with links
  1. BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6014: bls.gov
  2. BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
  3. Stafka pricing: stafka.com
  4. Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com

How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.