Tax Preparers pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,340 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in Helena earn between $52,310 and $84,020.
- $47K10th
- $52K25th
- $59KMedian
- $84K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,400 | $5,617 | $32.40 |
| Median | $59,170 | $4,931 | $28.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,310 | $4,359 | $25.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,020 | $7,002 | $40.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Tax preparers in Helena earn about the same as the Montana average ($68,980) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $67,400 | $59,170 | $47,470 | $84,340 | 30 |
| Montana | $68,980 | $63,080 | $44,300 | $100,060 | 360 |
| United States | $60,930 | $54,920 | $33,760 | $99,270 | 76,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in Helena
On the average salary of $67,400, a single filer in Helena takes home about $53,799 a year, or $4,483 a month and $2,069 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% 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 tax preparers? 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 $67,400 buys what about $70,447 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 2nd of 2 Montana metro areas for this job; Billings pays the most ($70,210).
- Billings$70,210
- Helena$67,400
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
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Tax Preparers salary in Helena: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in Helena?
$32.41 an hour on average, and $28.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in Helena?
About $53,799 a year ($4,483 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,400.
Do tax preparers earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. average for this job ($60,930).
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 13-2082; area Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- 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 1.40, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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