Nursing Assistants pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,060 or more. The middle half of nursing assistants in Helena earn between $38,420 and $48,620.
- $38K10th
- $38K25th
- $43KMedian
- $49K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,870 | $3,656 | $21.09 |
| Median | $42,520 | $3,543 | $20.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,420 | $3,202 | $18.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,620 | $4,052 | $23.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nursing Assistants pay in Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Nursing assistants in Helena earn about the same as the Montana average ($43,160) and about the same as the U.S. average ($42,700). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $42,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $43,870 | $42,520 | $37,590 | $50,060 | 290 |
| Montana | $43,160 | $40,900 | $36,780 | $49,700 | 4,390 |
| United States | $42,700 | $42,260 | $33,940 | $51,980 | 1,448,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Nursing Assistants salary after taxes in Helena
On the average salary of $43,870, a single filer in Helena takes home about $36,124 a year, or $3,010 a month and $1,389 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 nursing assistants? 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 $43,870 buys what about $45,853 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 10.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Nursing Assistants salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 2nd of 5 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($47,170).
- Bozeman$47,170
- Helena$43,870
- Billings$42,950
- Great Falls$42,500
- Missoula$42,330
Highest-paying cities for nursing assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,370).
- San Jose, CA$59,370
- San Francisco, CA$56,700
- Seattle, WA$55,220
- Grants Pass, OR$52,720
- Portland, OR$52,660
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Nursing Assistants salary in Helena: questions
How much do nursing assistants make an hour in Helena?
$21.09 an hour on average, and $20.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nursing assistants salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nursing assistants take-home pay in Helena?
About $36,124 a year ($3,010 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,870.
Do nursing assistants earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($42,700).
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 31-1131; area Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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