Salary

CPA Salary in Montana (2026)

Use current federal wage benchmarks to evaluate accounting pay in Montana. The figures cover accountants and auditors, not CPAs alone, so the page separates published data from career interpretation.

Quick answer

The May 2025 BLS benchmark for accountants and auditors in Montana is $83k in annual mean pay and $76k at the median. BLS does not publish a CPA-only state wage.

Published source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS state estimates for Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011), reference period May 2025, released 2026-05-15. These are occupation-wide figures, not CPA-only, experience-level, employer, or industry estimates.

$83k

Annual Mean

BLS accountants and auditors

$76k

Annual Median

Montana

$62k

25th Percentile

lower-market benchmark

$97k

75th Percentile

upper-market benchmark

Montana accountant and auditor wage distribution

BLS percentiles describe the statewide occupation distribution. They do not map directly to years of experience or guarantee a CPA salary.

May 2025 BLS annual wage estimates

10th percentile
$49,250
25th percentile
$61,690
Median
$75,810
Annual mean
$82,750
75th percentile
$97,320
90th percentile
$125,290

Lower-end and higher-end salary benchmarks in Montana

Montana Accountants and Auditors, BLS OEWS May 2025
BLS benchmarkAnnual payHow to use it
10th percentile$49,250Lower end of the occupation distribution
25th percentile$61,690Lower-market comparison point
Median$75,810Half of reported wages fall above and half below
75th percentile$97,320Upper-market comparison point
90th percentile$125,290Upper end of the occupation distribution

Planning to earn the credential? Review the Montana CPA exam and license requirements.

How to read Montana CPA salary data

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports $82,750 in annual mean pay and $75,810 in annual median pay for accountants and auditors in Montana. The mean is influenced by higher-paid roles, while the median marks the midpoint of the published wage distribution.

These figures are the most defensible statewide benchmark available here, but they are not a CPA premium study. Use them to anchor an offer comparison, then account for certification, specialty, city, employer, responsibility, and experience.

Lower and upper pay benchmarks in Montana

The lower end of the BLS distribution runs from $49,250 at the 10th percentile to $61,690 at the 25th percentile. Because BLS does not classify wages by years of experience, this range should not be described as a guaranteed starting salary.

At the upper end, the 75th percentile is $97,320 and the 90th percentile is $125,290. Those values describe the occupation distribution, not a promised senior, manager, director, or partner salary.

What can change a CPA salary in Montana

CPA status can strengthen a candidate's position, but compensation still depends on the work performed. Public accounting, corporate reporting, tax, audit, advisory, government, and nonprofit roles can sit at different points in the statewide distribution.

Compare total compensation as well as base pay. Bonuses, retirement contributions, health coverage, overtime expectations, remote-work terms, and the local cost of housing can materially change the value of an offer.

Turn your Montana salary goal into a study plan

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average accountant salary in Montana?
The May 2025 BLS OEWS estimate lists annual mean pay of $82,750 for accountants and auditors in Montana. BLS released this dataset in May 2026 and does not publish a CPA-only state average.
What is a realistic starting salary benchmark in Montana?
BLS does not label wages by experience level. Its 10th-to-25th-percentile range for Montana accountants and auditors is $49,250 to $61,690. Treat that as a lower-end market benchmark, not a guaranteed CPA starting salary.
What do higher-paid accountants earn in Montana?
The BLS 75th-to-90th-percentile range is $97,320 to $125,290 for accountants and auditors in Montana. Certification, role, industry, city, responsibility, and experience can all affect an individual offer.
Does BLS report CPA salaries separately?
No. BLS occupation code 13-2011 combines accountants and auditors and does not identify CPA status. This guide uses those figures as a transparent market benchmark rather than presenting them as CPA-only wages.