Psychiatric Aides Salary
The median pay for a psychiatric aides in Montana is $46,340/year ($22.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $47,773 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 35.7% 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 $46K get you in Montana?
About psychiatric aides
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What this looks like in Montana
Psychiatric aides pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $45K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,129/month, which is 36% 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 psychiatric aides (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Psychiatric Aides salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $48K | +3% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track psychiatric aides salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a psychiatric aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 36% 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 $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for psychiatric aides in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychiatric aides typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,381/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is psychiatric aide a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $45K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for psychiatric aides?
Montana pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do psychiatric aides make in Montana?
The median is $46,340 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,680, and experienced psychiatric aides can clear $58,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,137/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 36% 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 psychiatric aides 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 psychiatric aides salary is worth about $47,773 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do psychiatric aides 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.