Cost of hiring in the West Montana nonmetro area
Bookkeeper is the largest of these 14 jobs in the West Montana nonmetro area, with about 1,380 people1. Medians run from $35,990 a year for virtual receptionists to $75,940 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the West Montana nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Support Specialist | -3.0% | 800 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -5.3% | 210 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -6.2% | 940 | |
| Bookkeeper | -7.6% | 1,380 | |
| Accountant | -12.8% | 640 | |
| Office Manager | -14.1% | 780 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -14.3% | 230 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -15.1% | 770 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -15.7% | 110 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -15.9% | 150 | |
| Paralegal | -17.1% | 100 | |
| Recruiter | -18.0% | 350 | |
| Executive Assistant | -22.0% | 70 | |
| Project Coordinator | -25.8% | 390 |
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 $46,830 median for bookkeepers, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $60,426 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the West Montana nonmetro area against the US
The West Montana nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 14 roles. The gap is smallest for customer support specialists (-3.0%) and virtual receptionists (-5.3%) and largest for project coordinators (-25.8%). The middle gap across all 14 is -14.7%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for marketing specialists, #162 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for project coordinators, #491 of 518.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the West Montana nonmetro area has more bookkeepers (19.9% of these jobs here, against 8.8% nationally) and medical administrative assistants (13.6% against 6.2%), and fewer executive assistants (1.0% against 3.0%) and marketing specialists (2.2% against 5.8%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Columbus, GA-AL is nearest, at -14.7%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longview, TX | -14.6% | 17 | 10,300 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | -14.7% | 15 | 4,400 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | -14.7% | 14 | 2,520 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | -14.7% | 17 | 11,380 |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | -14.7% (this area) | 14 | 6,920 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | -14.9% | 17 | 11,540 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the West Montana nonmetro area span $36,630–$105,960, the widest band (2.9×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $35,990–$49,650. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 11 of 14 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for accountants, project coordinators, sales development representatives and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($85,540 against a $73,000 median for accountants).
the West Montana nonmetro area against Montana
Against Montana as a whole, the West Montana nonmetro area pays more only for sales development representatives (+2.1%), and less for 11, most of all project coordinators (-13.6%). It has the lowest median in Montana for project coordinators, office managers and payroll specialists and 1 more role.
Other areas in Montana
By jobs in these roles, the West Montana nonmetro area is #2 of 8 areas in Montana. The table shows the other 7.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 7,460 | 15 |
| Bozeman, MT | 5,430 | 13 |
| Missoula, MT | 5,420 | 14 |
| East-Central Montana (Nonmetro) | 4,200 | 14 |
| Helena, MT | 4,070 | 14 |
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | 2,890 | 14 |
| Great Falls, MT | 2,750 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the West Montana nonmetro area?
Of the 14 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $75,940 a year, about $97,987 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $35,990.
Is hiring in the West Montana nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 14 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for project coordinators (-25.8%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.