Recruiter salary in the West Montana nonmetro area
Hiring a recruiter costs less in the West Montana nonmetro area than in Montana or the country as a whole. The median is $62,250 a year1: 2.4% below the Montana statewide median of $63,790 and 18.0% below the US median of $75,940. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#399 of 521). About 350 recruiters work here, 15% of the Montana total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, 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) | $44,990 | $62,250 | $89,860 | |
| Montana | $44,990 | $63,790 | $108,180 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in the West Montana nonmetro area earns $49,940–$77,310. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $89,860, only 2.0 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $27,370 wide, against $27,890 across Montana and $40,770 nationally: employers in the West Montana nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,990 | $3,749 | $21.63 | $58,052 |
| 25th percentile | $49,940 | $4,162 | $24.01 | $64,439 |
| Median | $62,250 | $5,188 | $29.93 | $80,323 |
| 75th percentile | $77,310 | $6,442 | $37.17 | $99,755 |
| 90th percentile | $89,860 | $7,488 | $43.20 | $115,948 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $12,310 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $15,060, or about $19,432 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 $75,940 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the West Montana nonmetro area, and the Montana statewide median of $63,790 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the West Montana nonmetro area
At the $62,250 median, a local hire costs about $80,323 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $18,073 here. 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 recruiters 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 #4 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($66,220) and sales development representatives ($59,960). Project Coordinator is the highest at $75,940.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +17.3% | 640 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +6.4% | 150 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 350 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -3.7% | 230 | |
| Executive Assistant | -4.1% | 70 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #12 of the 14 roles we track in the West Montana nonmetro area (-18.0%), between paralegals (-17.1%) and executive assistants (-22.0%). The typical role here is at -14.7%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost less in the West Montana nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 5.1% of the jobs in these 14 roles in the West Montana nonmetro area, 5.6% across Montana and 5.9% nationally. The job is a smaller 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 $61,820 in the East-Central Montana nonmetro area to $78,020 in Helena, a gap of $16,200 a year. The one area in Montana with more recruiters, Billings, MT ($65,470), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs the West Montana nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | +5.2% | 440 | |
| Bozeman, MT | +2.9% | 320 | |
| Great Falls, MT | +0.8% | 170 | |
| Southwest Montana (Nonmetro) | +0.6% | 140 | |
| Missoula, MT | +0.2% | 280 | |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | this area | 350 | |
| East-Central Montana (Nonmetro) | -0.7% | 210 |
the West Montana nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West Montana nonmetro area is #329 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Montana, Wichita Falls and Harrisonburg pay just above the West Montana nonmetro area and Alexandria and Amarillo just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in the West Montana nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West Montana nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | +12.3% | 360 | jobs | |
| Bangor, ME | +2.7% | 350 | jobs | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | +1.3% | 350 | jobs | |
| Harrisonburg, VA | +0.1% | 240 | pay | |
| Wichita Falls, TX | +0.1% | 220 | pay | |
| West Montana (Nonmetro) | this area | 350 | ||
| Alexandria, LA | -0.1% | 230 | pay | |
| Amarillo, TX | -0.1% | 500 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in West Montana (Nonmetro)?
About $80,323 a year at the median, or $6,694 a month: $62,250 in pay plus about $18,073 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in the West Montana nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $62,250 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $44,990, the 90th $89,860, and the middle half earned $49,940 to $77,310.
Is the West Montana nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Montana for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $62,250 against $63,790 statewide. The next area up in Montana is Missoula at $62,380, the next down the East-Central Montana nonmetro area at $61,820.
How many recruiters work in the West Montana nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 350 in the May 2025 survey. That is 15% of the Montana total of 2,340. Only Billings has more in Montana.
Does a recruiter cost more than a sales development representative in the West Montana nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,290 a year more at the median. The medians are $62,250 and $59,960.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1071: 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.