Montana's average medical assistant salary of $46,570 places it above Idaho ($44,240) and Wyoming ($42,680) but below Colorado ($49,490), Oregon ($52,400), and Washington ($58,590). For employers, this means Montana is a cost-effective hiring market relative to the Pacific Northwest, while still offering candidates a pay level that tracks close to the national mean of $46,120. If you are competing for candidates who have offers from Washington or Oregon, expect to address the pay gap directly.
Medical assistant salary in Montana (2026)
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The average medical assistant salary in Montana is $46,570 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $46,820 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Montana employs 2,460 medical assistants, and the $250 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in Montana typically earn around $38,670, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed the $56,770 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in Montana, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $46,820 |
Average Annual Salary | $46,570 |
vs. National Average | 1.0% above the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 2,460 employed medical assistants across Montana.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in Montana
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $38,670 |
25th Percentile | $40,900 |
75th Percentile | $48,960 |
90th Percentile | $56,770 |
Setting an offer below $40,900 will put you outside the range most experienced candidates in Montana will accept, while offers approaching $48,960 to $56,770 will be competitive for senior or specialized roles. The $18,100 spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles reflects meaningful differences in experience, specialization, and practice setting across the state.
Medical assistant salary by city in Montana
City | Average Annual Salary |
Bozeman | $48,540 |
Missoula | $47,610 |
Great Falls | $45,820 |
Billings | $45,420 |
Employers hiring in Bozeman should budget noticeably more than those hiring in Billings, since the two markets differ by $3,120 in average annual pay. Bozeman leads the state at $48,540, while Billings comes in at $45,420, so location alone can shift your compensation target by a meaningful amount.
How Montana compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Montana | $46,570 | $46,820 |
Washington | $58,590 | $59,290 |
Oregon | $52,400 | $50,410 |
Colorado | $49,490 | $48,400 |
Idaho | $44,240 | $44,700 |
Wyoming | $42,680 | $40,920 |
Montana sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a cost-effective alternative to Washington and Oregon for employers who want to hire without competing at the highest pay levels in the West. Montana's average of $46,570 runs $12,020 below Washington's $58,590 but $3,890 above Idaho's $44,240, so your budget will stretch further here than in the Pacific Northwest states. Wyoming is the only nearby state where compensation runs lower than Montana.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in Montana
How does Montana compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in Montana?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in Montana earn $56,770 per year. Candidates at this level typically bring specialized skills, significant experience, or work in higher-acuity clinical settings. If you are recruiting for a senior or specialized role, plan to offer in the range of $48,960 to $56,770 to attract that tier of candidate.
What is the salary range for a medical assistant in Montana?
The published salary range for medical assistants in Montana runs from $38,670 at the 10th percentile to $56,770 at the 90th percentile. Entry-level candidates or those with limited experience will typically fall in the $38,670 to $40,900 band, while experienced specialists command offers closer to the upper end. Use the 25th and 75th percentile figures of $40,900 and $48,960 as practical anchors when building a compensation band for your role.
What is the average medical assistant salary in Montana?
The average medical assistant salary in Montana is $46,570 per year, with a median of $46,820. The median is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because it is less sensitive to a small number of very high-paying roles at the top of the market. When setting your offer, use the median of $46,820 as your baseline and adjust up or down based on the candidate's experience and the specific demands of the position.
Medical Assistant salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 31-9092 (Medical Assistants).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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