2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in Montana

Salary Report for Montana Social Workers

Montana Rankings

Compare Montana to U.S.

Montana Social Workers earn an average of $41,980 which is 23% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	Montana	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$20.19	$26.39	-23.49%
Average Annual Salary	$41,980	$54,880	-23.51%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Montana, 50% of Social Workers earn between $30,700 and $46,920 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $59,360, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $29,250, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	101	Under $29,250
15%	2 – 4 years	152	$29,250 – $30,700
25%	5 – 9 years	252	$30,700 – $38,850
25%	10 – 14 years	252	$38,850 – $46,920
15%	15 – 20 years	152	$38,850 – $59,360
10%	20+ years	101	Above $59,360

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Montana psychologists earn about $45,413 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in Montana is 8% less than the national average, which means Montana residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $41,980, Montana Social Workers tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($87,310), Psychology Teachers ($80,980), School Psychologists ($64,840), Health Care Social Workers ($55,830), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($45,490).

Title	Annual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$87,310
Psychology Teachers	$80,980
School Psychologists	$64,840
Health Care Social Workers	$55,830
Substance Abuse Counselors	$45,490
Social Workers	$41,980

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Montana the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (2,350), Social Workers (1,200) and Health Care Social Workers (670).

The three professions in Montana needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (25.7%), Social Workers (16.5%) and Health Care Social Workers (15.5%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	1,870	2,350	25.7%	240
Social Workers	1,030	1,200	16.5%	120
Health Care Social Workers	580	670	15.5%	70
Forensic Psychologists	120	110	-8.3%	10
Psychology Teachers	90	100	11.1%	10

Salaries Ranked by Montana Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in Montana is $41,980. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Billings ($45,640), Great Falls ($44,390) and East-Central Montana Nonmetropolitan Area ($43,190).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Great Falls ($51,443), Billings ($48,693) and East-Central Montana Nonmetropolitan Area ($46,687).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Social Workers in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Social Workers salary will have in that area.

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
Billings	$45,640	$48,693	$3,053
Great Falls	$44,390	$51,443	$7,053
East-Central Montana Nonmetropolitan Area	$43,190	$46,687	$3,497
West Montana Nonmetropolitan Area	$42,650	$46,103	$3,453
Missoula	$41,020	$43,834	$2,814
Southwest Montana Nonmetropolitan Area	$38,890	$42,039	$3,149

Salary FAQ for Montana Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

Official Data Sources for Social Workers: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data