Bookkeeper salary in Helena, MT
Hiring a bookkeeper costs less in Helena than in Montana or the country as a whole. The median is $45,870 a year1: 3.0% below the Montana statewide median of $47,270 and 9.5% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #367 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 650 people in this job here, 9% of the Montana total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, 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 | $36,620 | $45,870 | $64,040 | |
| Montana | $34,270 | $47,270 | $63,980 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Helena earns $42,840–$55,310. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $64,040, only 1.7 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $12,470 wide, against $15,280 across Montana and $17,950 nationally: employers in Helena pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,620 | $3,052 | $17.61 | $47,252 |
| 25th percentile | $42,840 | $3,570 | $20.60 | $55,277 |
| Median | $45,870 | $3,822 | $22.05 | $59,187 |
| 75th percentile | $55,310 | $4,609 | $26.59 | $71,368 |
| 90th percentile | $64,040 | $5,337 | $30.79 | $82,632 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $9,440 over the median, the 25th only $3,030 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $12,181 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 $50,670 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Helena, and the Montana statewide median of $47,270 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Helena
At the $45,870 median, a local hire costs about $59,187 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,317 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 bookkeepers 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 #12 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($46,680) and medical administrative assistants ($43,590). Project Coordinator is the highest at $102,970.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +3.9% | 480 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +1.8% | 380 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 650 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -5.0% | 340 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -16.5% | 100 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #11 of the 14 roles we track in Helena (-9.5%), between accountants (-8.3%) and sales development representatives (-14.1%). The typical role here is at -2.4%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost less in Helena than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 16.0% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Helena, 16.9% across Montana and 8.8% 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 $45,760 in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area to $49,820 in Bozeman, a gap of $4,060 a year. All 5 areas in Montana with more bookkeepers than Helena also pay more, among them the West Montana nonmetro area ($46,830) and Billings, MT ($47,830).
| Area | Median | vs Helena | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | +4.3% | 1,160 | |
| Missoula, MT | +3.4% | 760 | |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | +2.1% | 1,380 | |
| East-Central Montana (Nonmetro) | +1.0% | 940 | |
| Great Falls, MT | +0.0% | 440 | |
| Helena, MT | this area | 650 | |
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | -0.2% | 550 |
Helena against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Helena is #363 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Montana, College Station-Bryan and Tallahassee pay just above Helena and Fayetteville-Springdale and Tyler just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Helena. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Helena | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | +19.7% | 660 | jobs | |
| Iowa City, IA | +7.3% | 660 | jobs | |
| Tallahassee, FL | +0.1% | 1,130 | pay | |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | +0.0% | 950 | pay | |
| Helena, MT | this area | 650 | ||
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | -0.1% | 2,460 | pay | |
| Tyler, TX | -0.1% | 940 | pay | |
| Abilene, TX | -0.5% | 650 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Helena, MT?
About $59,187 a year at the median, or $4,932 a month: $45,870 in pay plus about $13,317 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Helena?
The median was $45,870 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $36,620, the 90th $64,040, and the middle half earned $42,840 to $55,310.
Is Helena cheaper than the rest of Montana for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $45,870 against $47,270 statewide. The next area up in Montana is Great Falls at $45,890, the next down the Southwest Montana nonmetro area at $45,760.
How many bookkeepers work in Helena?
BLS counts about 650 in the May 2025 survey. That is 9% of the Montana total of 6,980. 5 areas in Montana have more; the closest in size is Missoula, with about 760.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Helena?
Yes: $2,280 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,870 and $43,590.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: 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.