Health Education Specialists Salary
In Montana, health education specialists earn $51,200 at the median, or about $24.62 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $52,784 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 33.6% 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 $51K get you in Montana?
About health education specialists
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for health education specialists in Montana runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 health education specialists (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Health Education Specialists salary by metro in Montana
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $54K | +5% | 40 |
| Billings | $51K | +0% | 30 |
| Bozeman | $47K | -8% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track health education specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a health education specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 32.8% 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 $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for health education specialists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new health education specialists typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,114/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 53% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is health education specialist a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $51K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for health education specialists?
Montana pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do health education specialists make in Montana?
The median is $51,200 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,230, and experienced health education specialists can clear $82,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,439/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 32.8% 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 health education specialists 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 health education specialists salary is worth about $52,784 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do health education specialists 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.