Childcare Workers Salary
Childcare Workers in Montana make a median of $35,120 a year, or about $16.89 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $39K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $36,206 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 47.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $35K get you in Montana?
About childcare workers
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What this looks like in Montana
Childcare workers pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $35K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 0% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,129/month, which is 46.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level childcare workers (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $39K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Childcare Workers salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $36K | +4% | 280 |
| Billings | $36K | +2% | 440 |
| Missoula | $36K | +1% | 330 |
| Helena | $36K | +1% | 150 |
| Great Falls | $31K | -11% | 240 |
Compare to other states
Track childcare workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a childcare worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 46.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for childcare workers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new childcare workers typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,666/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 68% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is childcare worker a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $35K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for childcare workers?
Montana pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do childcare workers make in Montana?
The median is $35,120 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,770, and experienced childcare workers can clear $38,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,441/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 46.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a childcare workers salary go in Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median childcare workers salary is worth about $36,206 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do childcare workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.