Paralegal salary and cost of hiring in Montana
The median paralegal in Montana earned $57,290 a year in May 2025[1], 8.9% below the US median of $62,890. That puts Montana at #40 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 23-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $46,140 | $57,290 | $76,660 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Montana earns $48,560–$66,960; the top tenth earns $76,660 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Montana median that makes about $81,843 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for paralegals 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Montana
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, MT | $68,040 | 170 | |
| Bozeman, MT | $69,600 | 90 | |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $67,830 | 40 | |
| Billings, MT | $73,150 | 170 | |
| Great Falls, MT | $79,100 | 70 | |
| West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $65,000 | 100 | |
| Missoula, MT | $59,160 | 270 | |
| East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $64,300 | 100 |
Helena, MT pays the most ($64,210) and East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area the least ($48,470): $15,740 a year apart for the same job.
What a paralegal does
A paralegal supports lawyers with research, document drafting, filing and case management, under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | +1.8% | |
| North Carolina | +0.4% | |
| Montana | +0.0% | |
| Indiana | -0.5% | |
| Rhode Island | -1.8% |
Questions
How much does a paralegal earn in Montana?
The median was $57,290 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $48,560 to $66,960.
What does it cost to employ a paralegal in Montana?
About $81,843 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Montana do paralegals earn the most?
Helena, MT, with a median of $64,210 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.