Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in Montana is $78,740/year ($37.86/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $81,175 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 21.8% 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 $79K get you in Montana?
About speech-language pathologists
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for speech-language pathologists in Montana runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 22.5% 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 speech-language pathologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary by metro in Montana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $84K | +6% | 110 |
| Great Falls | $80K | +2% | 40 |
| Helena | $79K | +1% | 40 |
| Missoula | $74K | -6% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track speech-language pathologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 22.5% 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 speech-language pathologists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,508/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 speech-language pathologist a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $79K here vs. $98K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
Montana pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Montana?
The median is $78,740 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,460, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $106,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,020/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 22.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a speech-language pathologists 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 speech-language pathologists salary is worth about $81,175 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do speech-language pathologists 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.