worthsay

Speech-Language Pathology Salary in Montana: Is It a Good Career?

Montana · 2026 BLS salary data

Speech-Language Pathology pay in Montana

The median wage is $78,740/yr — 20% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Montanaranks #46 of 51 states by median pay.

The numbers in Montana

Real BLS state-level figures for Speech-Language Pathology.

Median salary
$78,740/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$65,010 – $93,490
National median
$97,870/yr
Employed in Montana
490

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Montana

Salary alone can mislead — Montana costs 5% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
94.6
Nominal median
$78,740
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $83,235
State income tax
Up to 5.9%

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

FAQ

How much do speech-language pathology professionals make in Montana?

The median annual wage is $78,740 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $65,010 and $93,490. That's 20% below the national median.

Is Montana a good state for speech-language pathology?

By raw pay, Montana ranks #46 of 51 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Montana costs 5% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $83,235.

Are speech-language pathology professionals in demand in Montana?

About 490 people work in this field in Montana (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +15.0% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Speech-Language Pathology nationally — Montana pay is 20% below the national median. See the full Speech-Language Pathology career guide →

The verdict

Yes — speech-language pathology offers strong pay, fast growth, meaningful work, and flexible settings. The barrier is the required master's degree and clinical fellowship, plus the debt involved.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Strong, above-median pay
  • Much-faster-than-average projected growth
  • Meaningful work across ages and conditions
  • Flexible settings: schools, clinics, hospitals, teletherapy
  • Good work-life balance, part-time options

Cons

  • Requires a master's degree plus clinical fellowship
  • Graduate debt relative to salary
  • Heavy documentation and caseloads
  • Licensure and continuing-education requirements

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • People wanting meaningful, flexible clinical work
  • Those able to complete graduate training
  • Anyone valuing strong work-life balance

✗ Probably not if…

  • People unwilling to pursue a master's
  • Those seeking a fast, low-cost entry

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Speech-Language Pathology is worth it — titles link to the original threads.