Lawyers pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $156,640 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Helena earn between $97,960 and $138,320.
- $68K10th
- $98K25th
- $108KMedian
- $138K75th
- $157K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $115,170 | $9,598 | $55.37 |
| Median | $108,410 | $9,034 | $52.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $97,960 | $8,163 | $47.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $138,320 | $11,527 | $66.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Lawyers in Helena earn about the same as the Montana average ($115,830) and 38% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -32% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $115,170 | $108,410 | $67,890 | $156,640 | 410 |
| Montana | $115,830 | $103,720 | $62,090 | $179,620 | 2,380 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Helena
On the average salary of $115,170, a single filer in Helena takes home about $84,706 a year, or $7,059 a month and $3,258 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Helena a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Helena area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $115,170 buys what about $120,376 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 3rd of 5 Montana metro areas for this job; Billings pays the most ($122,350).
- Billings$122,350
- Bozeman$117,010
- Helena$115,170
- Missoula$114,210
- Great Falls$109,690
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Helena: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Helena?
$55.37 an hour on average, and $52.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $97,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Helena?
About $84,706 a year ($7,059 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $115,170.
Do lawyers earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1011; area Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.92, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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