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2026-27 · State salary guide

MontanaTeacher salary schedules 2026-27

Find your district ↓
Starting pay$39,939
Top pay$94,618

Lowest published bachelor’s starting pay → highest published maximum across degree lanes in the districts below. Years and eligibility vary.

Average salary
$59,305NEA 2024-25
Starting salary
$36,682NEA 2024-25
State minimum
Not publishedSee state terms
Districts sourced
10Official schedules

Montana teachers averaged $59,305 in 2024-25, and the average starting salary was $36,682, which NEA ranks last in the nation.

Montana teachers averaged $59,305 in 2024-25, and the average starting salary was $36,682, which NEA ranks last in the nation. The state sets no minimum salary schedule, so each district bargains its own pay. Among the largest districts, 2026-27 starting pay for a bachelor's degree ranges from about $40,000 in Corvallis to about $53,000 in Butte and Helena, and Billings pays up to $94,618 on its doctorate lane. Several districts, including Kalispell, Belgrade and Columbia Falls, have no master's lane and pay a stipend instead.

Last verified · View sources

Experience × education

Your pay, step by step.

Read across from your credited step to your degree lane. These are published observations; missing steps are not estimated.

Billings Public Schools

Official schedule ↗
Billings Public Schools · 2026-27 · Annual base salary by published step. Darker cells indicate higher pay; every cell shows its amount.
StepBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorate
0$50,852$58,542$66,049
1$50,852$58,542$66,049
2$51,442$59,386$67,102
3$52,588$60,663$68,487
4$53,760$61,970$69,904
5$54,959$63,305$71,354
6$56,399$64,910$73,095
7$57,878$66,558$74,883
8$59,398$68,250$76,719
9$60,957$69,989$78,605
10$62,560$71,773$80,542
11$64,692$74,151$83,120
12$66,900$76,610$85,788
13$69,184$79,156$88,550
14$71,548$81,790$91,409
15$74,247$84,768$94,618

Helena Public Schools

Official schedule ↗
Helena Public Schools · 2026-27 · Annual base salary by published step. Darker cells indicate higher pay; every cell shows its amount.
StepBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorate
0$52,275$53,300$61,632
1$52,650$54,583$63,165
2$53,026$55,867$64,699
3$53,401$57,150$66,232
4$53,777$59,018$67,766
5$54,152$60,885$69,299
6$54,528$62,753$70,833
7$54,903$64,621$72,366
8$55,279$66,488$73,899
9$55,654$68,356$75,434
10$56,029$70,224$76,966
11$56,029$72,091$78,501
12$56,029$73,959$80,034
13$56,029$75,827$81,566
14$56,029$77,694$83,101
15$56,029$79,562$84,634
16$56,029$79,562$86,168
17$56,029$79,562$87,701
18$56,029$79,562$89,235
19$56,029$79,562$90,768
20$56,029$79,562$91,216
21$56,029$79,562$91,664
22$56,029$79,562$92,112
23$56,029$79,562$92,561
24$56,029$79,562$93,009

Butte School District No. 1

Official schedule ↗
Butte School District No. 1 · 2026-27 · Annual base salary by published step. Darker cells indicate higher pay; every cell shows its amount.
StepBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorate
1$53,201$61,243Not published
2$53,201$61,243Not published
3$53,201$61,243Not published
4$53,201$61,243Not published
5$53,201$61,243Not published
6$55,220$63,812Not published
7$57,243$66,370Not published
8$59,269$68,936Not published
9$61,289$71,500Not published
10$63,310$74,063Not published
11$65,335$76,630Not published
12$67,360$79,193Not published
13$69,383$81,757Not published
14$71,272$83,650Not published
15$71,272$84,104Not published
16$71,272$84,558Not published
17$71,272$85,012Not published
18$71,272$85,465Not published
19$71,272$85,919Not published
20$71,272$86,373Not published
21$71,272$86,787Not published
22$71,272$87,203Not published
23$71,272$87,621Not published
24$71,272$88,042Not published
25$71,272$88,464Not published

East Helena Public Schools

Official schedule ↗
East Helena Public Schools · 2026-27 · Annual base salary by published step. Darker cells indicate higher pay; every cell shows its amount.
StepBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorate
0$44,995$48,401Not published
1$45,960$49,759Not published
2$46,948$51,121Not published
3$47,949$52,499Not published
4$48,954$53,876Not published
5$49,960$55,254Not published
6$50,969$56,643Not published
7$51,988$58,066Not published
8$53,008$59,524Not published
9$53,008$61,016Not published
10$53,008$62,564Not published
11$53,008$64,179Not published
12$53,008$65,838Not published
13$53,008$67,586Not published
14$53,008$69,412Not published
15$53,008$71,236Not published
16Not published$73,127Not published
17Not published$73,127Not published
18Not published$73,127Not published
19Not published$74,086Not published
20Not published$74,086Not published
21Not published$74,086Not published
22Not published$74,086Not published
23Not published$75,511Not published
24Not published$75,511Not published
25Not published$75,511Not published
26Not published$75,511Not published
27Not published$75,511Not published
28Not published$75,511Not published
29Not published$75,511Not published

Bozeman Public Schools

Official schedule ↗
Bozeman Public Schools · 2026-27 · Annual base salary by published step. Darker cells indicate higher pay; every cell shows its amount.
StepBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorate
1$50,242$59,336Not published
2$51,850$60,944Not published
3$53,407$62,501Not published
4$55,015$64,109Not published
5$56,572$65,717Not published
6$58,180$67,274Not published
7$58,180$68,882Not published
8$58,180$70,439Not published
9$58,180$72,047Not published
10$58,180$73,655Not published
11$58,180$75,212Not published
12$58,180$75,212Not published
13$58,180$75,212Not published
14$58,180$75,212Not published
15$58,180$75,212Not published
16$58,180$75,212Not published
17$58,180$75,212Not published
18$58,180$75,212Not published

Great Falls Public Schools

Official schedule ↗
Great Falls Public Schools · 2026-27 · Annual base salary by published step. Darker cells indicate higher pay; every cell shows its amount.
StepBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorate
1$42,044$46,122Not published
2$43,599$48,097Not published
3$45,155$50,073Not published
4$46,711$52,053Not published
5$48,267$54,028Not published
6$49,823$56,002Not published
7$51,377$57,979Not published
8$52,933$59,954Not published
9$54,489$61,930Not published
10$56,044$63,909Not published
11$57,601$65,882Not published
12$59,156$67,858Not published
13$59,156$69,834Not published
14$59,156$71,811Not published
15$59,156$73,787Not published
16$59,156$73,787Not published
17$59,156$73,787Not published
18$59,156$73,787Not published

Corvallis School District #1

Official schedule ↗
Corvallis School District #1 · 2026-27 · Annual base salary by published step. Darker cells indicate higher pay; every cell shows its amount.
StepBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorate
0$39,939$46,187Not published
1$42,856$47,249Not published
2$42,856$48,336Not published
3$42,856$49,448Not published
4$43,742$50,585Not published
5$44,748$51,749Not published
6$45,777$52,939Not published
7$46,830$54,156Not published
8$47,907$55,402Not published
9$47,907$56,676Not published
10$47,907$57,980Not published
11$47,907$59,313Not published
12$47,907$60,678Not published
13$47,907$62,073Not published
14$47,907$63,501Not published
15$47,907$64,961Not published
16$47,907$66,456Not published
17$47,907$67,984Not published
18$47,907$69,548Not published
19$47,907$71,147Not published
20$47,907$72,784Not published
21$47,907$72,784Not published
22$47,907$72,784Not published
23$47,907$72,784Not published
24$47,907$72,784Not published

Belgrade School District

Official schedule ↗
Belgrade School District · 2026-27 · Annual base salary by published step. Darker cells indicate higher pay; every cell shows its amount.
StepBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorate
2$45,450Not publishedNot published
3$46,700Not publishedNot published
4$47,984Not publishedNot published
5$49,304Not publishedNot published
6$50,660Not publishedNot published
7$52,053Not publishedNot published
8$53,484Not publishedNot published
9$54,955Not publishedNot published
10$56,466Not publishedNot published
11$58,019Not publishedNot published

Columbia Falls School District No. 6

Official schedule ↗
Columbia Falls School District No. 6 · 2026-27 · Annual base salary by published step. Darker cells indicate higher pay; every cell shows its amount.
StepBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorate
0$46,274Not publishedNot published
1$47,245Not publishedNot published
2$48,215Not publishedNot published
3$49,186Not publishedNot published
4$50,156Not publishedNot published
5$51,127Not publishedNot published
6$52,097Not publishedNot published
7$53,067Not publishedNot published
8$54,038Not publishedNot published
9$55,008Not publishedNot published
10$55,979Not publishedNot published
11$56,946Not publishedNot published

Kalispell Public Schools

Official schedule ↗
Kalispell Public Schools · 2026-27 · Annual base salary by published step. Darker cells indicate higher pay; every cell shows its amount.
StepBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorate
1$48,763Not publishedNot published
2$49,494Not publishedNot published
3$50,237Not publishedNot published
4$50,991Not publishedNot published
5$51,757Not publishedNot published
6$52,534Not publishedNot published
7$53,323Not publishedNot published
8$54,125Not publishedNot published
9$54,939Not publishedNot published
10$55,765Not publishedNot published
11$56,604Not publishedNot published

District pay rankings.

Ranked by highest published maximum across degree lanes. Annual base pay, by education level. Years and contract terms can differ; open each schedule before comparing.

Select a column heading to sort. Scroll the table horizontally for more columns. Missing values are marked “Not published”.

Montana district salary comparison
Official source
Billings Public SchoolsBillings2026-27$50,852$58,542$74,247$84,768$94,618Schedule ↗ for Billings Public Schools
Helena Public SchoolsHelena2026-27$52,275$53,300$56,029$79,562$93,009Schedule ↗ for Helena Public Schools
Butte School District No. 1Butte2026-27$53,201$61,243$71,272$88,464Not publishedSchedule ↗ for Butte School District No. 1
East Helena Public SchoolsEast Helena2026-27$46,948$48,401$53,008$75,511Not publishedSchedule ↗ for East Helena Public Schools
Bozeman Public SchoolsBozeman2026-27$50,242$59,336$58,180$75,212Not publishedSchedule ↗ for Bozeman Public Schools
Great Falls Public SchoolsGreat Falls2026-27$42,044$46,122$59,156$73,787Not publishedSchedule ↗ for Great Falls Public Schools
Corvallis School District #1Corvallis2026-27$39,939$46,187$47,907$72,784Not publishedSchedule ↗ for Corvallis School District #1
Belgrade School DistrictBelgrade2026-27$45,450Not published$58,019Not publishedNot publishedSchedule ↗ for Belgrade School District
Columbia Falls School District No. 6Columbia Falls2026-27$46,274Not published$56,946Not publishedNot publishedSchedule ↗ for Columbia Falls School District No. 6
Kalispell Public SchoolsKalispell2026-27$48,763Not published$56,604Not publishedNot publishedSchedule ↗ for Kalispell Public Schools

10 districts shown

Empty classroom desks in window light, in cobalt duotone.School life, in focus

The district picture

Starting pay to top pay

Largest districts included in this guide, sorted by published top pay. Starting pay is the bachelor’s entry rate; top pay is the highest published maximum across degree lanes.

━ Bachelor’s start▨ Top pay · all degree lanes
Billings Public Schools2026-27

BA start $50,852

Top $94,618

Helena Public Schools2026-27

BA start $52,275

Top $93,009

Butte School District No. 12026-27

BA start $53,201

Top $88,464

East Helena Public Schools2026-27

BA start $46,948

Top $75,511

Bozeman Public Schools2026-27

BA start $50,242

Top $75,212

Great Falls Public Schools2026-27

BA start $42,044

Top $73,787

Corvallis School District #12026-27

BA start $39,939

Top $72,784

Belgrade School District2026-27

BA start $45,450

Top $58,019

Columbia Falls School District No. 62026-27

BA start $46,274

Top $56,946

Kalispell Public Schools2026-27

BA start $48,763

Top $56,604

Missoula County Public Schools2026-27

Schedule not published

Annual base salary on a shared zero-based scale. Top pay can require advanced qualifications and many years of service. Missing values are not zero.
View district chart data
Published district pay
DistrictYearBA startTop pay
Billings Public Schools2026-27$50,852$94,618
Helena Public Schools2026-27$52,275$93,009
Butte School District No. 12026-27$53,201$88,464
East Helena Public Schools2026-27$46,948$75,511
Bozeman Public Schools2026-27$50,242$75,212
Great Falls Public Schools2026-27$42,044$73,787
Corvallis School District #12026-27$39,939$72,784
Belgrade School District2026-27$45,450$58,019
Columbia Falls School District No. 62026-27$46,274$56,946
Kalispell Public Schools2026-27$48,763$56,604
Missoula County Public Schools2026-27Not publishedNot published

Experience & progression

How pay grows by step

Bachelor’s lane · 5 districts with numeric step data

$0k$20k$40k$60k$80k06121824Experience stepBillings Public Schools: step 0, $50,852Billings Public Schools: step 1, $50,852Billings Public Schools: step 2, $51,442Billings Public Schools: step 3, $52,588Billings Public Schools: step 4, $53,760Billings Public Schools: step 5, $54,959Billings Public Schools: step 6, $56,399Billings Public Schools: step 7, $57,878Billings Public Schools: step 8, $59,398Billings Public Schools: step 9, $60,957Billings Public Schools: step 10, $62,560Billings Public Schools: step 11, $64,692Billings Public Schools: step 12, $66,900Billings Public Schools: step 13, $69,184Billings Public Schools: step 14, $71,548Billings Public Schools: step 15, $74,247Great Falls Public Schools: step 1, $42,044Great Falls Public Schools: step 2, $43,599Great Falls Public Schools: step 3, $45,155Great Falls Public Schools: step 4, $46,711Great Falls Public Schools: step 5, $48,267Great Falls Public Schools: step 6, $49,823Great Falls Public Schools: step 7, $51,377Great Falls Public Schools: step 8, $52,933Great Falls Public Schools: step 9, $54,489Great Falls Public Schools: step 10, $56,044Great Falls Public Schools: step 11, $57,601Great Falls Public Schools: step 12, $59,156Great Falls Public Schools: step 13, $59,156Great Falls Public Schools: step 14, $59,156Great Falls Public Schools: step 15, $59,156Great Falls Public Schools: step 16, $59,156Great Falls Public Schools: step 17, $59,156Great Falls Public Schools: step 18, $59,156Bozeman Public Schools: step 1, $50,242Bozeman Public Schools: step 2, $51,850Bozeman Public Schools: step 3, $53,407Bozeman Public Schools: step 4, $55,015Bozeman Public Schools: step 5, $56,572Bozeman Public Schools: step 6, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 7, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 8, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 9, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 10, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 11, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 12, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 13, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 14, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 15, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 16, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 17, $58,180Bozeman Public Schools: step 18, $58,180Helena Public Schools: step 0, $52,275Helena Public Schools: step 1, $52,650Helena Public Schools: step 2, $53,026Helena Public Schools: step 3, $53,401Helena Public Schools: step 4, $53,777Helena Public Schools: step 5, $54,152Helena Public Schools: step 6, $54,528Helena Public Schools: step 7, $54,903Helena Public Schools: step 8, $55,279Helena Public Schools: step 9, $55,654Helena Public Schools: step 10, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 11, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 12, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 13, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 14, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 15, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 16, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 17, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 18, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 19, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 20, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 21, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 22, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 23, $56,029Helena Public Schools: step 24, $56,029Kalispell Public Schools: step 1, $48,763Kalispell Public Schools: step 2, $49,494Kalispell Public Schools: step 3, $50,237Kalispell Public Schools: step 4, $50,991Kalispell Public Schools: step 5, $51,757Kalispell Public Schools: step 6, $52,534Kalispell Public Schools: step 7, $53,323Kalispell Public Schools: step 8, $54,125Kalispell Public Schools: step 9, $54,939Kalispell Public Schools: step 10, $55,765Kalispell Public Schools: step 11, $56,604
  • Billings Public Schools2026-27
  • Great Falls Public Schools2026-27
  • Bozeman Public Schools2026-27
  • Helena Public Schools2026-27
  • Kalispell Public Schools2026-27
Lines connect published observations, not estimated salaries for missing steps. A step is not always a year of service. District placement rules and schedule years vary.
View step progression data
Bachelor’s lane by published step
DistrictStepAnnual pay
Billings Public Schools0$50,852
Billings Public Schools1$50,852
Billings Public Schools2$51,442
Billings Public Schools3$52,588
Billings Public Schools4$53,760
Billings Public Schools5$54,959
Billings Public Schools6$56,399
Billings Public Schools7$57,878
Billings Public Schools8$59,398
Billings Public Schools9$60,957
Billings Public Schools10$62,560
Billings Public Schools11$64,692
Billings Public Schools12$66,900
Billings Public Schools13$69,184
Billings Public Schools14$71,548
Billings Public Schools15$74,247
Great Falls Public Schools1$42,044
Great Falls Public Schools2$43,599
Great Falls Public Schools3$45,155
Great Falls Public Schools4$46,711
Great Falls Public Schools5$48,267
Great Falls Public Schools6$49,823
Great Falls Public Schools7$51,377
Great Falls Public Schools8$52,933
Great Falls Public Schools9$54,489
Great Falls Public Schools10$56,044
Great Falls Public Schools11$57,601
Great Falls Public Schools12$59,156
Great Falls Public Schools13$59,156
Great Falls Public Schools14$59,156
Great Falls Public Schools15$59,156
Great Falls Public Schools16$59,156
Great Falls Public Schools17$59,156
Great Falls Public Schools18$59,156
Bozeman Public Schools1$50,242
Bozeman Public Schools2$51,850
Bozeman Public Schools3$53,407
Bozeman Public Schools4$55,015
Bozeman Public Schools5$56,572
Bozeman Public Schools6$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools7$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools8$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools9$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools10$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools11$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools12$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools13$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools14$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools15$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools16$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools17$58,180
Bozeman Public Schools18$58,180
Helena Public Schools0$52,275
Helena Public Schools1$52,650
Helena Public Schools2$53,026
Helena Public Schools3$53,401
Helena Public Schools4$53,777
Helena Public Schools5$54,152
Helena Public Schools6$54,528
Helena Public Schools7$54,903
Helena Public Schools8$55,279
Helena Public Schools9$55,654
Helena Public Schools10$56,029
Helena Public Schools11$56,029
Helena Public Schools12$56,029
Helena Public Schools13$56,029
Helena Public Schools14$56,029
Helena Public Schools15$56,029
Helena Public Schools16$56,029
Helena Public Schools17$56,029
Helena Public Schools18$56,029
Helena Public Schools19$56,029
Helena Public Schools20$56,029
Helena Public Schools21$56,029
Helena Public Schools22$56,029
Helena Public Schools23$56,029
Helena Public Schools24$56,029
Kalispell Public Schools1$48,763
Kalispell Public Schools2$49,494
Kalispell Public Schools3$50,237
Kalispell Public Schools4$50,991
Kalispell Public Schools5$51,757
Kalispell Public Schools6$52,534
Kalispell Public Schools7$53,323
Kalispell Public Schools8$54,125
Kalispell Public Schools9$54,939
Kalispell Public Schools10$55,765
Kalispell Public Schools11$56,604

The wider picture

Salary in context

Montana average$59,305
NEA 2024-25 · Source
State minimumNot published
See state minimum terms below · Source
National average$74,495
Reporting year not published · Source
Average pay describes the workforce; a minimum is a floor subject to state rules. These measures can cover different years and are not equivalent starting offers.
View salary context data
State and national salary measures
MeasureAmountContext
Montana average$59,305NEA 2024-25
State minimumNot publishedSee state minimum terms below
National average$74,495Reporting year not published

State minimum salary

Montana has no statewide minimum teacher salary schedule; districts bargain pay locally. The state's TEACH Act incentive (expanded by the 2025 STARS Act) offers districts extra funding to raise starting pay, but it is an incentive, not a required minimum. The thresholds could not be read on an official OPI page on 2026-10-28 because the guidance links were removed. Great Falls' agreement describes STARS placement as '70% of the average teacher's pay or 11X QEP, whichever is higher'. NEA averages are for 2024-25. District size is the OPI FY2026 fall student count, with separate elementary and high school districts combined where they share one schedule.

Read the state minimum source ↗

Before you compare offers

Match the school year, degree lane and credited experience. The published maximum is not a promise of starting placement. Confirm contract days, supplements and eligibility in each district’s official schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find Montana district salary schedules?

Use the district comparison table on this page to open a district guide and its official salary schedule. Each source is linked with a verification date.

Does a master’s degree change the salary?

Check the master’s lane in the district’s published schedule. Degree supplements and placement rules vary; a missing value here does not mean there is no additional pay.

Sources and last checked

Last verified

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