Salaries › Payroll Clerk › Montana
Payroll Clerk Salary in Montana (2026)
$26.46 per hour · take-home ≈ $44,574/year ($3,715/month) for a single filer
Montana ranks 30th of 51 states for Payroll Clerk pay, with a median about 5% below the national average. Of the 530 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in Montana, the typical worker earns $55,040 a year — though pay ranges from $37,910 for newcomers to $78,500 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in Montana
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $37,910 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $46,500 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $55,040 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $63,060 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $78,500 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 530 Payroll Clerk jobs in Montana (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in Montana
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $55,040 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Montana state income tax, a single filer keeps about $44,574 — an effective tax rate of 19.0%.
| Gross (median) | $55,040 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,425 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,211 |
| Montana state income tax | −$1,830 |
| Take-home (annual) | $44,574 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,715 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Montana paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in Montana?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in Montana is $55,040 per year ($26.46 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $46,500 and $63,060.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in Montana?
- On the median salary of $55,040, a single filer in Montana takes home about $44,574 per year ($3,715 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.0%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in Montana?
- BLS counts 530 Payroll Clerk jobs in Montana in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in Montana
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Montana state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Montana.