Surgical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a surgical assistants in Montana is $67,370/year ($32.39/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $69,454 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 25.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $67K get you in Montana?
About surgical assistants
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Montana
Surgical assistants pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $67K locally vs. $67K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.6% 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 surgical assistants (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track surgical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 25.6% 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 surgical assistants in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical assistants typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,288/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is surgical assistant a high-paying job in Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $67K locally vs. $67K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for surgical assistants?
Montana pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical assistants make in Montana?
The median is $67,370 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,800, and experienced surgical assistants can clear $99,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,410/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 25.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a surgical assistants 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 surgical assistants salary is worth about $69,454 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do surgical assistants 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.