Project Coordinator salary in Helena, MT
Project coordinators earn more in Helena than anywhere else in Montana. Expect a median of $102,970 a year1, 17.2% above the Montana statewide median of $87,890 and about level with the US median of $102,320. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#76 of 518). BLS counts about 340 people in this job here, 12% of the Montana total.
BLS occupation 13-1082, area Helena, MT. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Helena against Montana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, MT | $65,940 | $102,970 | $144,640 | |
| Montana | $58,680 | $87,890 | $143,170 | |
| United States | $61,580 | $102,320 | $167,970 |
The middle half of project coordinators in Helena earns $81,010–$121,760. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $144,640, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($102,960) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $40,750 wide, against $50,330 across Montana and $54,660 nationally: employers in Helena pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a project coordinator here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $65,940 | $5,495 | $31.70 | $85,084 |
| 25th percentile | $81,010 | $6,751 | $38.95 | $104,529 |
| Median | $102,970 | $8,581 | $49.50 | $132,865 |
| 75th percentile | $121,760 | $10,147 | $58.54 | $157,110 |
| 90th percentile | $144,640 | $12,053 | $69.54 | $186,632 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $18,790 a year in pay and about $24,245 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $21,960 in pay. 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 $102,320 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Helena, and the Montana statewide median of $87,890 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Helena
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 $29,895 to the $102,970 median and brings it to $132,865 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 project coordinators 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 Helena
Project coordinators have the highest median of the 14 roles we track in Helena; virtual receptionists have the lowest, at $38,320.
| Role | Median | vs project coordinator | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | this role | 340 | |
| Recruiter | -24.2% | 280 | |
| Accountant | -25.5% | 580 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -36.1% | 130 | |
| Paralegal | -37.6% | 170 |
Measured against the US median, project coordinators rank #6 of the 14 roles we track in Helena (+0.6%), between virtual receptionists (+0.8%) and administrative assistants (+0.3%). The typical role here is at -2.4%, so, measured against the US, project coordinators cost more in Helena than the area's general pay level would suggest. Project coordinators hold 8.4% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Helena, 7.1% across Montana and 6.9% 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 $75,940 in the West Montana nonmetro area to $102,970 in Helena, a gap of $27,030 a year. All 4 areas in Montana with more project coordinators than Helena pay less, among them Bozeman, MT ($99,090) and Billings, MT ($85,540).
| Area | Median | vs Helena | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, MT | this area | 340 | |
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | -0.9% | 160 | |
| Bozeman, MT | -3.8% | 670 | |
| Billings, MT | -16.9% | 520 | |
| Missoula, MT | -18.2% | 360 | |
| Great Falls, MT | -18.8% | 160 | |
| East-Central Montana (Nonmetro) | -22.4% | 130 |
Helena against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Helena is #309 of 517 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Montana, Barnstable Town and Olympia-Lacey pay just above Helena and Davenport-Moline and Decatur just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in Helena. Of the three markets with about as many project coordinators, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Helena | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | +0.0% | 810 | pay | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | +0.0% | 240 | pay | |
| Helena, MT | this area | 340 | ||
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | -0.1% | 650 | pay | |
| Decatur, IL | -0.1% | 60 | pay | |
| Houma-Bayou Cane, LA | -12.1% | 340 | jobs | |
| Gainesville, GA | -18.5% | 340 | jobs | |
| Laredo, TX | -29.6% | 340 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a project coordinator in Helena, MT?
About $132,865 a year at the median, or $11,072 a month: $102,970 in pay plus about $29,895 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do project coordinators earn in Helena?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $102,970 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $65,940, the 90th $144,640, and the middle half earned $81,010 to $121,760.
Is Helena the most expensive area in Montana for project coordinators?
Yes. Its median of $102,970 is the highest of 8 areas in Montana. The Southwest Montana nonmetro area comes next at $102,060.
How many project coordinators work in Helena?
BLS counts about 340 in the May 2025 survey. That is 12% of the Montana total of 2,940. 4 areas in Montana have more; the closest in size is Missoula, with about 360.
Does a project coordinator cost more than a recruiter in Helena?
Yes: $24,950 a year more at the median. The medians are $102,970 and $78,020.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1082: 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.