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School district · Montana · LEAID 3013310

Hardin Elem

Hardin Elem spends $21,442 per pupil, in the highest third among comparable Montana districts with a reliable figure. Per-pupil spending, enrollment, and budget for Hardin Elem come from the NCES Common Core of Data F-33 finance survey (FY2023).

$62,182
Est. avg teacher salary

Above benchmark

$21,442
Per-pupil spending
1,284
Students enrolled
66th
Pct. in MT
$62,182

Hardin Elem spends $21,442 per pupil, in the highest third among comparable Montana districts with a reliable figure. Estimated average teacher salary is $62,182, below the national average of $70,245, serving 1,284 students (NCES CCD F-33, FY2023).

  • High per-pupil spending: Hardin Elem spends $21,442 per pupil, in the highest third among comparable Montana districts with a reliable figure.
  • 66th percentile for Montana
  • 42nd percentile nationally
  • 27% of spending reaches instructional salaries
  • Montana ranks #36 of 49 on the salary estimate and #43 of 49 on enrollment in the same reliable-district pool.
  • Hardin Elem ranks #48 of 140 Montana districts by estimated teacher salary and #15 of 140 by per-pupil spending. Helena H S pay #1 at $104,507 is not Lolo Elem spending #1 at $49,777 per pupil
  • +46.0% estimated-basis panel FY2019→FY2023 (not applied to the FTE figure above)

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Instructional payroll mix vs Montana median

Among 317 Montana districts that break out F-33 program salary totals, Hardin Elem's instructional payroll puts 92.8% into regular program , 2.8 points above the state median of 90.0%. Regular-program teachers claim more of the instructional salary pool here than at the median Montana district.

Program Hardin Elem MT median Gap
Regular program 92.8% 90.0% +2.8 pp
Special education 6.8% 6.7% +0.1 pp

Shares are of this district's reported F-33 teacher-salary program totals (Z35–Z38), compared with the median share across 317 in-state peers with a positive program sum. NCES LEAID 3013310 · FY2023.

LEAID 3013310 · NCES CCD F-33 FY2023

Hardin Elem F-33 compensation desk

SALARY-ABOVE +5% vs state RANK-ST-MID P66 in state RANK-NAT-LOW P42 national PPE-MID $21K/pupil ENR-SMALL 1,284 students INSTR-LOW 27% instr BASIS-FTE FTE-reported PHOTO-NEAR Near Dillon FY-2023-LIGHT FY2023 book

FY2023: $62,182 estimated average teacher salary · P66 in Montana · P42 nationally · 27% instructional salary share. Nearest salary peer: Dillon (+$151est. salary).

Salary neighbourhood chart for Hardin Elem

Salary neighbourhood · Hardin Elem

Hardin Elem sits mid-pack among in-state peers; the chart brackets it between the top and bottom pay poles (NCES F-33 FY2023, not a full state reprint).

est. salary
Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey As of FY2023
Appropriate use & corrections
National salary distribution for Hardin Elem

Hardin Elem's estimated salary vs. every US district

NCES F-33 estimate, reliable-salary districts only

$62,182 42nd percentile higher than 42% of 10,684 US districts

Show national distribution $30,000–$40,000: 155 US districts (1%). Below this entry. $40,000–$50,000: 1,360 US districts (13%). Below this entry. $50,000–$60,000: 2,382 US districts (22%). Below this entry. $60,000–$70,000: 2,402 US districts (22%). This entry sits in this band. $70,000–$80,000: 1,633 US districts (15%). Above this entry. $80,000–$90,000: 1,097 US districts (10%). Above this entry. $90,000–$100,000: 662 US districts (6%). Above this entry. $100,000–$110,000: 371 US districts (3%). Above this entry. $110,000–$120,000: 249 US districts (2%). Above this entry. $120,000–$130,000: 156 US districts (1%). Above this entry. $130,000–$140,000: 112 US districts (1%). Above this entry. $140,000–$150,000: 57 US districts (1%). Above this entry. $150,000–$160,000: 25 US districts (0%). Above this entry. $160,000–$170,000: 13 US districts (0%). Above this entry. $170,000–$180,000: 10 US districts (0%). Above this entry. $180,000–$190,000: 0 US districts (0%). Above this entry. Hardin Elem $30,000 $190,000 every reliable-salary US district, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $10K-wide band; taller bars hold more US districts. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, FY2023 · FY2023

What stands out about Hardin Elem

  • Estimated teacher pay here rose +46.0% between FY2019 and FY2023, outpacing Montana's statewide +12.5% by 33.5 points, a growth rate faster than 96% of the 277 Montana districts with a comparable FY2019 baseline.
  • Enrolment fell from 1,410 to 1,284 students (8.9% down) across FY2019–FY2023 while the instructional salary pool per teacher went up. Districts on that path are usually holding staffing steady against a falling roll, which lifts the per-teacher figure without anyone getting a raise, so read this page's salary estimate alongside the enrolment line rather than on its own.

This pay stretches further than the headline figure suggests

Nominal district estimate
$62,182.252

The FY2023 salary estimate shown in the hero.

Montana price level
91.0 / 100

BEA all-items regional price parity; 100 is the U.S. average.

National-price equivalent
$68,322

+10% versus the nominal figure.

Prices in Montana run below the national average, so this salary has roughly the buying power of the national-price equivalent above. A district in a costlier state can advertise a larger nominal salary and still leave a teacher with less.

Regional price parity: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2023 all-items RPP by state. The adjustment applies a statewide index to a district figure, so it captures how Montana compares nationally, not how this district compares with others in its own state. Compare every state on this basis.

How this salary figure is calculated
Full NCES reading for Hardin Elem

What the Numbers Say About Hardin Elem

Hardin Elem is a small school district in Montana, serving 1,284 students at an estimated per-pupil spending of $21,442. Estimated average teacher salary, derived from reported teacher salary expenditure (F-33 items Z35-Z38) divided by teacher FTE, is $62,182, placing the district in the high-investment tier of NCES F-33 respondents. NCES LEAID 3013310 references the FY2023 Common Core of Data Local Education Agency Finance Survey.

Relative to the Montana statewide average of $59,058, teacher pay in Hardin Elem runs meaningfully above the state benchmark, a 5.3% gap, and below the national instructional-salary estimate of $70,245 (11.5% differential). Among enrolling districts in Montana, it pays more than 66% of them. Montana itself ranks #36 of 49 nationally on average teacher compensation, which shapes the funding ceiling districts operate under.

On the budget side, Hardin Elem reports $27.5M in total expenditure against $27.9M in revenue, with instructional salaries accounting for 27% of spending, a compensation-to-budget ratio that signals how much of each tax dollar reaches classroom educators. Regular-program teacher salary outlay is $6.3M, special-education teacher pay is $0.5M.

How does Hardin Elem compare?

Estimated average teacher salary versus a peer district, the Montana average, and the national average. Pick any in-state district to compare.

Hardin Elem $62,182
Billings Elem $74,295
Montana avg $59,058
National avg $70,245

Hardin Elem pays -16.3% less than Billings Elem · per-pupil $21,442 vs $12,841

Derived from NCES F-33 teacher salary expenditure (Z35-Z38) and CCD Staff Universe teacher FTE (FY2023); a small minority use the documented fallback. Unreliable service entities are excluded.

Data-derived comparison paths

Find comparable Montana districts

On pay, Hardin Elem sits closest to Dillon Elem; on per-pupil investment, its nearest match is Baker K-12 Schools. These are not simply nearby districts: each group is selected from the same NCES FY2023 dataset using a matching salary or per-pupil-investment signal and a comparable enrollment range.

Closest on estimated pay
  1. Dillon Elem
  2. Stevensville H S
  3. Libby K-12 Schools
  4. Columbia Falls Elem
  5. Laurel Elem
  6. Target Range Elem
  7. Browning Elem
  8. Colstrip Elem
  9. Polson H S
  10. Havre H S
  11. Ronan Elem
Closest on per-pupil investment
  1. Baker K-12 Schools
  2. Lame Deer Elem
  3. Three Forks Elem
  4. Townsend K-12 Schools
  5. Beaverhead County H S
  6. Columbia Falls Elem
  7. Browning H S
  8. Colstrip Elem
  9. Evergreen Elem
  10. Rocky Boy Elem
  11. St Ignatius K-12 Schools

Similar estimated teacher pay

Similar per-pupil investment

Nationwide districts with profiles like Hardin Elem

Two out-of-state peer sets for Hardin Elem: closest on enrollment (1,284 students here) and closest on estimated average teacher salary ($62,182 here). Rows stay link-disjoint so each axis is a distinct neighborhood.

Similar enrollment

Nearest other districts by NCES student count (floored at ≥200).

Similar estimated salary

Nearest other districts by F-33-derived average teacher salary, distinct from the enrollment row.

Enrollment and salaries from NCES CCD F-33; estimated teacher pay can diverge widely at the same student count because of state funding, cost of living, and local bargaining.

Revenue & Expenditure

$27.9M
Total Revenue
$27.5M
Total Expenditure
$7.5M
Instruction Salaries
27% of total spending

Instructional Salary by Program

$6.3M
Regular Program
$0.5M
Special Education
$0.0M
Other Programs

The teacher salaries behind this page's average are the ones NCES reports for 3 programs in Hardin Elem: the regular program, special education and other programs. It reports no separate figure for vocational programs. Together they are 91% of everything the district spends on instructional salaries; the other 9% pays instructional aides, paraprofessionals, substitutes and other instructional staff who are not counted as teachers here.

Montana Teacher Pay Overview

The highest average among comparably sized Montana districts belongs to Helena H S at $104,507. Hardin Elem places 32 of 64 comparably sized districts, squarely in the middle band the state average actually represents. New Mexico and Missouri are the states closest to Montana on BEA's price parity, which makes them the fair comparison; against a costlier state this salary goes further than its number suggests.

View all Montana districts →

Other Montana Districts

The bar behind each salary shows its magnitude within this Montana sample (including Hardin Elem). Hover or focus a value for the exact comparison.

East Helena K-12
$52,307
1,952 students
Bigfork Elem
$58,811
610 students
Poplar Elem
$73,007
596 students
Whitefish H S
$85,560
581 students
Target Range Elem
$62,787
574 students
Browning H S
$49,653
563 students

This is a sample of 6 from 139 Montana districts with enrollment and salary data reliable enough to compare in the NCES CCD F-33 survey.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hardin Elem
What is the average teacher salary in Hardin Elem?

The average teacher salary in Hardin Elem is $62,182 (NCES CCD FY2023), from reported teacher salary expenditure (F-33 items Z35-Z38) divided by the district's reported teacher headcount (NCES CCD Staff Universe Survey).

How does Hardin Elem teacher pay compare to the Montana average?

Hardin Elem pays 5.3% more than the Montana state average of $59,058. The district's average is $62,182.

How does Hardin Elem teacher pay compare to the national average?

Hardin Elem pays 11.5% below the national average of $70,245. The district average is $62,182.

What is the per-pupil spending in Hardin Elem?

Hardin Elem spends approximately $21,442 per student annually (NCES FY2023), covering instructional salaries, support services, and administration.

What percentage of Hardin Elem's budget goes to teacher salaries?

Instructional salaries account for 27% of Hardin Elem's total expenditure of $27.5M (NCES FY2023).

Next read for Hardin Elem
Disclaimer & data sources

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainTeacher

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Editorial standards & source notes

According to the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, PlainTeacher's figures are computed directly, no number is typed in by an editor. Hardin Elem's salary and finance figures are computed directly from its FY2023 F-33 submission, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of FY2023.