How to Become a Bookkeeper in Montana (2026)

Q: How much do bookkeepers earn in Montana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), bookkeepers in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,270. Employment concentration in Montana is about 1.54 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for bookkeepers in Montana?

Montana currently employs approximately 6,980 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -5.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earn a median annual wage of $47,270 ($22.73/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 6,980 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -6.7% below the national median of $50,670 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,270 ($22.73/hr)
25th percentile: $40,510 per year
75th percentile: $55,790 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $63,980 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $34,270 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 6,980
Versus national median: -6.7% below the U.S. median of $50,670
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.54 - this occupation is more concentrated in Montana than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Montana employs about 6,980 bookkeepers earning a median $47,270 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most bookkeepers train through an approved program before entering the field in Montana.

Compare Bookkeeper Schools in Montana

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	College of Eastern Idaho	66.6	Contact school for pricing	$55,123	37%	Yes*	243 mi
2	Brigham Young University-Idaho	65.8	Contact school for pricing	$56,787	55%	Yes*	217 mi
3	Miles Community College	65.0	$5,818 - $17,452	$43,022	55%	Yes*	247 mi
4	Northern Wyoming Community College District	60.3	Contact school for pricing	$51,958	Not reported	Yes*	243 mi
5	Flathead Valley Community College	54.5	$4,912 - $14,882	$47,642	28%	Yes*	180 mi
6	Helena College University of Montana	50.2	$4,146 - $15,819	$50,913	37%	Yes*	54 mi
7	North Idaho College	46.4	Contact school for pricing	$50,312	37%	Yes*	277 mi
8	Highlands College of Montana Tech	40.9	Contact school for pricing	$79,369	36%	—	100 mi
9	Stone Child College	34.9	Contact school for pricing	$45,263	Not reported	—	108 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Montana employs approximately 6,980 bookkeepers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,270 ¹. The state’s concentration of bookkeeper jobs is 1.54x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, bookkeeper employment is projected to grow -5.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 170,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Bookkeeper in Montana, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (Montana): $47,270 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Bookkeeper in Montana

How to become a Bookkeeper in Montana? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for bookkeepers in Montana.

How long does it take? bookkeeper training length in Montana varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do bookkeepers earn in Montana? The median annual wage for bookkeepers in Montana is $47,270 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,270 and experienced professionals can earn $63,980 or more ¹.

How to Become a Bookkeeper in Montana

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Montana training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved bookkeeper program in Montana that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to bookkeepers in Montana before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Bookkeeper Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Wages by Metro Area in Montana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks wages in Montana vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Billings	1,160	$47,830	$49,810	$35,180	$64,700
Bozeman	940	$49,820	$52,920	$34,880	$71,080
Missoula	760	$47,420	$48,460	$34,440	$63,080
Helena	650	$45,870	$49,010	$36,620	$64,040
Great Falls	440	$45,890	$45,970	$30,750	$60,320

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for bookkeepers in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 6,980 bookkeepers ¹. Nationally, bookkeeper employment is projected to grow -5.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Montana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Montana.

How much do bookkeepers earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for bookkeepers in Montana is $47,270, which is $1,940 below the national median of $49,210 according to BLS data ¹.

In Montana

Best Trade Schools in Montana (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Montana

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)