Office Manager salary in the West Montana nonmetro area
Of the 8 areas in Montana with BLS pay data for this job, the West Montana nonmetro area has the lowest median: $59,720 a year1. That is 4.5% below the Montana statewide median of $62,550, and 14.1% below the US median of $69,500. Among US areas it comes in at #381 of 519. With about 780 office managers, 19% of the Montana total, no area in Montana employs more.
BLS occupation 43-1011, 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
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | $42,220 | $59,720 | $85,090 | |
| Montana | $45,240 | $62,550 | $91,580 | |
| United States | $45,610 | $69,500 | $104,710 |
The middle half of office managers in the West Montana nonmetro area earns $48,530–$71,510. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $85,090, only 2.0 times the bottom tenth, against 2.3 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $22,980 wide, against $23,600 across Montana and $29,140 nationally: employers in the West Montana nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an office manager here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,220 | $3,518 | $20.30 | $54,477 |
| 25th percentile | $48,530 | $4,044 | $23.33 | $62,619 |
| Median | $59,720 | $4,977 | $28.71 | $77,058 |
| 75th percentile | $71,510 | $5,959 | $34.38 | $92,271 |
| 90th percentile | $85,090 | $7,091 | $40.91 | $109,794 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $11,190 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $11,790, or about $15,213 once benefits are added. 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 $69,500 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the West Montana nonmetro area, and the Montana statewide median of $62,550 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the West 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 $17,338 to the $59,720 median and brings it to $77,058 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 office managers 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 West Montana nonmetro area
Of the 14 roles we track in the West Montana nonmetro area, this one ranks #7 by median pay, between executive assistants ($59,720) and paralegals ($52,120). Project Coordinator is the highest at $75,940.
| Role | Median | vs office manager | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +0.4% | 230 | |
| Executive Assistant | +0.0% | 70 | |
| Office Manager | this role | 780 | |
| Paralegal | -12.7% | 100 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -17.7% | 110 |
Measured against the US median, office managers rank #6 of the 14 roles we track in the West Montana nonmetro area (-14.1%), between accountants (-12.8%) and sales development representatives (-14.3%). The typical role here is at -14.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Office managers hold 11.3% of the jobs in these 14 roles in the West Montana nonmetro area, 9.7% across Montana and 9.2% 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 $59,720 in the West Montana nonmetro area to $68,620 in Bozeman, a gap of $8,900 a year. No other area in Montana has as many office managers, and none of the others pays less.
| Area | Median | vs the West Montana nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, MT | +6.7% | 320 | |
| Billings, MT | +6.1% | 680 | |
| Missoula, MT | +5.6% | 490 | |
| Great Falls, MT | +4.0% | 290 | |
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | +3.4% | 290 | |
| East-Central Montana (Nonmetro) | +2.6% | 510 | |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | this area | 780 |
the West Montana nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West Montana nonmetro area is #297 of 517 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Montana, Tallahassee and Corpus Christi pay just above the West Montana nonmetro area and Hinesville and Tucson just below. All four are within $280 a year of the median in the West Montana nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many office managers, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West Montana nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | +13.2% | 780 | jobs | |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | +1.1% | 780 | jobs | |
| Corpus Christi, TX | +0.1% | 1,870 | pay | |
| Tallahassee, FL | +0.0% | 1,430 | pay | |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | this area | 780 | ||
| Hinesville, GA | -0.5% | 140 | pay | |
| Tucson, AZ | -0.5% | 3,500 | pay | |
| Houma-Bayou Cane, LA | -4.5% | 780 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an office manager in West Montana (Nonmetro)?
About $77,058 a year at the median, or $6,422 a month: $59,720 in pay plus about $17,338 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for office managers in the West Montana nonmetro area?
The median was $59,720 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $42,220, the 90th $85,090, and the middle half earned $48,530 to $71,510.
Is the West Montana nonmetro area the cheapest area in Montana for office managers?
Yes. Its median of $59,720 is the lowest of 8 areas in Montana. The East-Central Montana nonmetro area is next at $61,300.
How many office managers work in the West Montana nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 780 in the May 2025 survey. That is 19% of the Montana total of 4,030. No other area in Montana has as many.
Does an office manager cost more than a paralegal in the West Montana nonmetro area?
Yes: $7,600 a year more at the median. The medians are $59,720 and $52,120.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-1011: 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.