Healthcare Social Workers Salary
In Montana, healthcare social workers earn $57,090 at the median, or about $27.45 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $58,856 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 30.1% 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 $57K get you in Montana?
About healthcare social workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Montana
Pay for healthcare social workers in Montana runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.7% 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 healthcare social workers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Healthcare Social Workers salary by metro in Montana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $60K | +5% | 140 |
| Missoula | $58K | +1% | 160 |
| Great Falls | $57K | +1% | 70 |
| Helena | $50K | -12% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track healthcare social workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Community & Social
Frequently asked questions
Can a healthcare social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 29.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for healthcare social workers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new healthcare social workers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,780/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is healthcare social worker a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $57K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for healthcare social workers?
Montana pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do healthcare social workers make in Montana?
The median is $57,090 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,330, and experienced healthcare social workers can clear $77,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,804/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 29.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a healthcare social 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 healthcare social workers salary is worth about $58,856 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do healthcare social 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.