School Psychologists Salary
The median pay for a school psychologists in Montana is $80,010/year ($38.47/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $82,485 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Montana?
About school psychologists
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for school psychologists in Montana runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $96K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Montana can be a reasonable trade-off for school psychologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level school psychologists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
School Psychologists salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $94K | +17% | 30 |
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Track school psychologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a school psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 22.2% 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 school psychologists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new school psychologists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,571/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is school psychologist a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $80K here vs. $96K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for school psychologists?
Montana pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $96K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — below the national median.
How much do school psychologists make in Montana?
The median is $80,010 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,520, and experienced school psychologists can clear $101,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,088/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 22.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a school psychologists 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 school psychologists salary is worth about $82,485 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do school psychologists 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.