Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Montana
The median payroll specialist in Montana earned $55,040 a year in May 2025[1], 5.5% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Montana at #30 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $37,910 | $55,040 | $78,500 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Montana earns $46,500–$63,060; the top tenth earns $78,500 or more, 2.1 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 $78,629 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 payroll specialists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $70,260 | 60 | |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $69,640 | 30 | |
| Billings, MT | $62,850 | 100 | |
| Great Falls, MT | $60,510 | 30 | |
| East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $68,480 | 90 | |
| Missoula, MT | $59,270 | 60 | |
| West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $59,500 | 110 |
Bozeman, MT pays the most ($60,800) and West Montana nonmetropolitan area the least ($49,120): $11,680 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | +1.2% | |
| Vermont | +0.5% | |
| Montana | +0.0% | |
| Nebraska | -0.3% | |
| Texas | -1.7% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Montana?
The median was $55,040 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $46,500 to $63,060.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Montana?
About $78,629 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 payroll specialists earn the most?
Bozeman, MT, with a median of $60,800 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.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.