Cost of hiring in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area
BLS counts about 2,890 people in these 14 roles in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($102,060 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($36,130), and Bookkeeper is the largest job, with about 550 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +2.2% | 30 | |
| Project Coordinator | -0.3% | 160 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -1.4% | 360 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -3.1% | 420 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -3.7% | 80 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -4.9% | 80 | |
| Paralegal | -6.1% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -6.7% | 300 | |
| Bookkeeper | -9.7% | 550 | |
| Office Manager | -11.1% | 290 | |
| Accountant | -11.2% | 320 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -16.2% | 70 | |
| Recruiter | -17.6% | 140 | |
| Executive Assistant | -32.2% | 50 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $45,760 median for bookkeepers, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $59,045 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Southwest Montana nonmetro area against the US
The Southwest Montana nonmetro area pays above the US median for only one of the 14 roles, payroll specialists (+2.2%), and below it for 12, furthest for executive assistants (-32.2%). For project coordinators it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 14 is -6.4%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for marketing specialists, #64 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for executive assistants, #481 of 509.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Southwest Montana nonmetro area has more bookkeepers (19.0% of these jobs here, against 8.8% nationally) and medical administrative assistants (10.4% against 6.2%), and fewer sales development representatives (2.4% against 8.1%) and virtual receptionists (2.8% against 5.8%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Ames, IA is nearest, at -6.4%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | -6.1% | 17 | 31,320 |
| Elmira, NY | -6.2% | 14 | 3,040 |
| Ames, IA | -6.4% | 16 | 4,620 |
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | -6.4% (this area) | 14 | 2,890 |
| Grand Junction, CO | -6.5% | 16 | 6,320 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | -6.7% | 17 | 69,270 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, payroll specialists in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area span $39,510–$112,290, the widest band (2.8×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $35,000–$50,410. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 11 of 14 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for recruiters and sales development representatives: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($70,080 against a $62,600 median for recruiters).
the Southwest Montana nonmetro area against Montana
Against Montana as a whole, the Southwest Montana nonmetro area pays more for 5 of 14 roles, led by project coordinators (+16.1%) and marketing specialists (+11.4%), and less for 8, most of all executive assistants (-13.1%). It has the lowest median in Montana for executive assistants and bookkeepers.
Other areas in Montana
By jobs in these roles, the Southwest Montana nonmetro area is #7 of 8 areas in Montana. The table shows the other 7.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 7,460 | 15 |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | 6,920 | 14 |
| Bozeman, MT | 5,430 | 13 |
| Missoula, MT | 5,420 | 14 |
| East-Central Montana (Nonmetro) | 4,200 | 14 |
| Helena, MT | 4,070 | 14 |
| Great Falls, MT | 2,750 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area?
Of the 14 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $102,060 a year, about $131,690 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $36,130.
Is hiring in the Southwest Montana nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For 12 of the 14 roles, yes, most of all executive assistants (-32.2%). One pays more than the US median: payroll specialists (+2.2%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.