Tax Preparers Salary
In Montana, tax preparers earn $63,080 at the median, or about $30.33 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $65,031 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 27.2% 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 $63K get you in Montana?
About tax preparers
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for tax preparers, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $55K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level tax preparers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Tax Preparers salary by metro in Montana
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $66K | +5% | 80 |
| Helena | $59K | -6% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track tax preparers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a tax preparer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 27% 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 tax preparers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tax preparers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,658/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is tax preparer a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $63K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for tax preparers?
Montana pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tax preparers make in Montana?
The median is $63,080 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,300, and experienced tax preparers can clear $100,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,176/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 27% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a tax preparers 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 tax preparers salary is worth about $65,031 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tax preparers 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.