Medical Records Specialists Salary
The median pay for a medical records specialists in Montana is $50,190/year ($24.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $51,742 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 34.2% 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 $50K get you in Montana?
About medical records specialists
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What this looks like in Montana
Medical records specialists pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $50K locally vs. $51K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.4% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level medical records specialists (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Records Specialists salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $53K | +6% | 60 |
| Missoula | $53K | +5% | 90 |
| Great Falls | $51K | +1% | 50 |
| Billings | $50K | +0% | 260 |
| Helena | $48K | -4% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track medical records 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 medical records specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 33.4% 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 medical records specialists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical records specialists typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,428/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical records specialist a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $50K locally vs. $51K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for medical records specialists?
Montana pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do medical records specialists make in Montana?
The median is $50,190 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,460, and experienced medical records specialists can clear $64,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,376/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 33.4% 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 medical records 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 medical records specialists salary is worth about $51,742 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical records 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.