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State profile · NCES F-33 FY2023

Teacher Salary in Montana

Montana is in the smallest third by reported enrollment (149,179 students) among states with NCES enrollment. According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available for every public school district in Montana.

$59,058
Est. state avg salary

Well below benchmark

-15.9%
vs national
#36
National rank
317
Districts

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$59,058/year (est.)

Montana is in the smallest third by reported enrollment (149,179 students) among states with NCES enrollment. Estimated average teacher salary is $59,058, materially below the national average of $70,245, ranking #36 of 49, across 140 public school districts with reliable data (NCES CCD F-33, FY2023).

  • Smaller K-12 enrollment scale: Montana is in the smallest third by reported enrollment (149,179 students) among states with NCES enrollment.
  • lower third nationally (#36 of 49)
  • Montana ranks #36 of 49 on the salary estimate and #43 of 49 on enrollment in the same reliable-district pool.
  • $71,525 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
  • -15.9% vs the national average
  • +12.5% estimated-basis panel FY2019→FY2023 (balanced cohort, not the FTE average above)
  • #28 of 49 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 91.0)

Montana sits in the lower third for estimated pay

Across 140 reliable-salary districts, the average estimate is $59,058: #36 of 49 jurisdictions with a reliable district estimate, and 15.9% below the national benchmark of $70,245.

The rank compares the same F-33-derived district measure nationwide. It does not include benefits, experience steps, taxes, or local living costs; use it as a relative state placement rather than an exact paycheck.

Montana purchasing-power check on lower-third pay

Montana's nominal average teacher salary ranks #36 of the 49 states and territories that report teacher salaries. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2023 Regional Price Parity (91.0, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $73,912, ranking #28 of 49 , 8 places higher than the nominal rank once relative price levels are factored in. This purchasing-power view is not published by NEA's teacher-pay rankings or the aggregator sites; it comes from combining our own F-33-derived salary estimate with BEA's public RPP series. See the full 51-state release for methodology and download. BEA Regional Price Parities · NCES CCD F-33

Montana in the teacher-salary distribution

FY2023 estimated state averages from the same NCES-derived ranking

$59,058 27th percentile higher than 27% of 49 reporting states and territories

Show national distribution $0–$5,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Below this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 2 reporting states and territories (4%). Below this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 6 reporting states and territories (12%). Below this entry. $55,000–$60,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$65,000: 9 reporting states and territories (18%). Above this entry. $65,000–$70,000: 7 reporting states and territories (14%). Above this entry. $70,000–$75,000: 2 reporting states and territories (4%). Above this entry. $75,000–$80,000: 4 reporting states and territories (8%). Above this entry. $80,000–$85,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $85,000–$90,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $90,000–$95,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. $95,000–$100,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $100,000–$105,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $105,000–$110,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $110,000–$115,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. $115,000–$120,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $120,000–$125,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. Montana $0 $125,000 reporting state salary estimates, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more reporting states and territories. 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; state estimates derived from reported instructional-salary expenditure and teacher FTE · FY2023

Montana's comparable salary trend

Same reporting-district cohort, FY2019-FY2023

FY2023 estimated average
$69,108 12.51956884659947% vs FY2019
270 districts held in the panel
$60,000$65,000$70,000 FY2019FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023 Montana est. avg teacher salary, FY2019: $61,419Montana est. avg teacher salary, FY2020: $63,169Montana est. avg teacher salary, FY2021: $66,294Montana est. avg teacher salary, FY2022: $68,173Montana est. avg teacher salary, FY2023: $69,108 $61,419 $69,108 ▲ +12.5%
Read the chart as text
Period Montana est. avg teacher salary
FY2019 $61,419
FY2020 $63,169
FY2021 $66,294
FY2022 $68,173
FY2023 $69,108

Highest-paying districts in Montana

Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)

Est. avg salary

What this shows Helena H S leads Montana on the F-33 instructional-salary estimate. Service entities (CTCs, county offices) are excluded, their enrollment-based ratios are not reliable salary figures.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, FY2023 As of FY2023

Top 3 districts

1 $104,507

Helena H S

Est. avg teacher salary
2 $101,335

Butte H S

Est. avg teacher salary
3 $85,560

Whitefish H S

Est. avg teacher salary

Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary

District Est. Avg Salary Enrollment Per-Pupil Exp
Glasgow K-12 Schools $51,180 769 $14,486
Frenchtown K-12 Schools $51,114 1,443 $11,812
Plains K-12 $50,813 453 $13,704
Elysian Elem $50,805 451 $13,953
Darby K-12 Schools $50,677 326 $18,276
Ennis K-12 Schools $50,644 422 $15,512
Shepherd Elem $50,579 562 $12,044
Elder Grove Elem $50,475 689 $10,643
Shelby Elem $50,431 390 $14,749
Smith Valley Elem $50,349 224 $11,295
Helena Flats Elem $50,000 280 $10,132
Clinton Elem $49,903 214 $14,883
Browning H S $49,653 563 $20,199
Miles City Elem $49,480 953 $13,227
Cascade Elem $49,357 221 $12,416
Fairfield Elem $49,348 207 $18,778
Anaconda H S $48,802 281 $15,822
Big Sky School K-12 $48,752 432 $48,322
Shepherd H S $48,570 253 $17,190
Heart Butte K-12 Schools $47,803 208 $33,471
Choteau Elem $47,719 255 $12,380
Centerville Elem $47,678 237 $15,093
Dawson H S $47,469 343 $14,114
Clancy Elem $47,336 385 $10,036
Joliet Elem $47,202 270 $11,648
Twin Bridges K-12 Schools $47,126 210 $20,490
Plentywood K-12 Schools $46,873 371 $15,957
Cayuse Prairie Elem $46,300 304 $12,161
Roundup Elem $45,448 407 $12,629
Park City Elem $43,531 224 $14,022
Wolf Point H S $43,068 225 $18,293
Lincoln County H S $42,794 306 $11,180
Livingston Elem $42,701 837 $14,934
Stevensville Elem $42,329 656 $10,444
Canyon Creek Elem $41,699 234 $11,880
Victor K-12 Schools $41,102 236 $20,068
Lone Rock Elem $40,907 254 $10,984
Park H S $40,463 418 $17,311
Harlowton K-12 $40,075 258 $20,283
Fort Benton Elem $32,982 249 $11,253

Showing 101–140 of 140 enrolling districts. Specialized non-enrolling agencies (career/technical centers, county offices, service co-ops) are excluded from the salary ranking, their enrollment-based estimates are not reliable.

Lowest-Paying Districts in Montana

District Est. Avg Salary Enrollment
Fort Benton Elem $32,982 249
Harlowton K-12 $40,075 258
Park H S $40,463 418
Lone Rock Elem $40,907 254
Victor K-12 Schools $41,102 236
Canyon Creek Elem $41,699 234
Stevensville Elem $42,329 656
Livingston Elem $42,701 837
Lincoln County H S $42,794 306
Wolf Point H S $43,068 225

Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.

Nationwide peers near Montana's smaller K-12 scale

Two nationwide peer sets for Montana: closest on estimated average teacher salary ($59,058 here) and closest on total student enrollment (149,179 here). Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not geographic containment.

Similar estimated salary

Nearest other states by unweighted district-mean teacher pay (F-33 derived, ≥5 districts with reliable estimates).

Similar enrollment

Nearest other states by NCES-reported K-12 enrollment. Salary peers above are excluded.

Compare Nearby-Ranked States

Virginia
$63,048
Rank #33
Maine
$62,872
Rank #34
Georgia
$61,790
Rank #35
Kansas
$58,516
Rank #37

Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2023. Salary figures divide instructional expenditure (variable Z33) by each district's reported teacher FTE, or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure. Not individual salary data. Read our methodology.

Montana teacher salary FAQ

What is the average teacher salary in Montana?

Across 140 Montana public school districts with reliable data, the average teacher salary is $59,058 (NCES CCD F-33 reported teacher salaries divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2023). It is a district-level mean derived from finance filings, so it will not match a contract-salary survey exactly, read it as a relative comparison.

Which Montana school district pays teachers the most?

Helena H S reports the highest average teacher salary in Montana at $104,507, while Fort Benton Elem sits at the lower end at $32,982.

How does Montana teacher pay compare to the national average?

Montana's average of $59,058 is materially below the national average of $70,245 (-15.9%), ranking #36 of the 49 jurisdictions with a reliable district estimate.

How many school districts are in Montana?

Montana has 317 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 149,179 students.

How much do teachers make in Montana?

District-average teacher pay in Montana runs from $32,982 in Fort Benton Elem to $104,507 in Helena H S, with 2 of 140 reliable-data districts at $100,000 or above. Where a teacher lands depends far more on which district employs them than on the statewide figure. These are district-wide averages from NCES CCD F-33 (FY2023), not individual salaries or pay-scale steps.

Can teachers earn $100,000 in Montana?

2 of 140 Montana districts with reliable data report an estimated average teacher salary of $100,000 or more, led by Helena H S at $104,507. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.

How does Montana rank after adjusting for cost of living?

Within the separate enrollment-weighted state comparison, BEA's 2023 Regional Price Parity (91.0, US=100) adjusts Montana's nominal estimate of $67,270 from #33 to $73,912 and #28. The headline uses an unweighted district mean, so this does not replace it. Neither measure is take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.

Explore Montana

Disclaimer & data sources

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