How Much Does a Home Health Aide Make in Montana in 2026?

A typical Home Health Aide in Montana earns about $17.61 per hour ($36,630 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down across the calendar year, that annual total translates to roughly $3,052 per month. For day-to-day budgeting, workers take in approximately $704 per week, calculated directly from the annual figure. These earnings reflect full-time schedules across residential care and in-home client settings.

Statewide pay sits two percent above the national baseline of $35,800 annually, or $17.21 hourly. That wage level places Montana at 20th among all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Across the state, a workforce of roughly 10,400 aides provides direct personal care services. These caregivers deliver essential daily assistance across both rural valleys and regional healthcare hubs.

Entry-level positions in Montana typically offer around $14.12 per hour, which equals approximately $29,370 annually for newer aides. Workers with a year or two of experience often see earnings rise toward $14.95 per hour, or $31,100 per year. Pay moves toward the typical statewide figure of $17.61 hourly as aides establish consistent client routines. Basic onboarding and standard certifications help new caregivers build solid foundations during these early stages.

Experienced Home Health Aides often earn upwards of $20.73 per hour, translating to $43,120 per year. The top 10% of earners make over $21.51 per hour, or more than $44,740 annually. This creates an entry-to-top spread of $15,370 between early-career and seasoned caregivers across Montana. Specialized care settings, years on the job, and employer location in higher-paying cities explain much of this earnings difference.

Over recent years, caregiver wages in the state have expanded steadily from $25,210 in 2019 to $36,630 in 2025. That trajectory represents an overall dollar gain of $11,420 for full-time workers in this field. Across this period, compensation achieved a 45 percent increase statewide. Yearly adjustments reflect broad upward movement across the regional healthcare sector.

Montana outpaced the national decade rise, which saw home care pay climb 42 percent across the country during the same timeframe. Gains in the state kept pace with regional cost adjustments while narrowing historical gaps. For someone entering the occupation today, these shifts show that baseline compensation has moved up significantly in recent years. Future wage rates will depend on broader economic conditions and agency budgets rather than past performance.

Where compensation runs highest inside the state, Bozeman leads all metropolitan areas with typical pay of $39,280 per year, or $18.89 per hour. That figure sits seven percent above the Montana statewide benchmark. Missoula also reports competitive earnings at $38,050 annually, while Billings posts $36,640 and Helena records $36,570. These reported metropolitan statistics cover each city's full metro area including surrounding suburban communities.

At the other end of the range, Great Falls records the lowest typical earnings at $34,540 annually, or $16.61 hourly. This creates a geographic city spread of $4,740 across Montana metropolitan markets. Missoula supports the largest Home Health Aide workforce with 1,950 employed aides, balancing solid wages with higher staffing volume. Lower pay in certain areas usually tracks lower living costs, which helps preserve local purchasing power.

Montana sits in the middle of regional wage scales across the northern plains and mountain west. To the east, North Dakota offers higher typical pay at $39,440, while South Dakota reaches $37,740. Conversely, southern and western neighbors pay less, with Idaho reporting $34,790 and Wyoming posting the lowest regional rate at $33,190. Professional licensure or registry status in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby state through standard reciprocity processes.

Caregivers in Montana currently take home a typical wage of $36,630 per year, reflecting a steady gain of $11,420 over the past decade. Prospective aides evaluating this career path should review the state licensing or registry page to understand mandatory training and certification requirements. In addition, consulting individual city pages provides detailed insight into local wage patterns, cost dynamics, and municipal employment opportunities before accepting a position.