Montana School Counselor
School counselors in Montana earn a median salary of $59,480 per year and work with students from pre-K through 12th grade. The state projects 60 job openings annually through 2032. You’ll need a master’s degree in school counseling, supervised fieldwork, and a Class 6 School Counselor Specialist license from the Montana Office of Public Instruction to practice.
Montana Links
Montana has more than 140,000 public school students spread across one of the largest and most sparsely populated states in the country. For counselors, that geography isn’t just context — it shapes the job. Rural students often face barriers to mental health services that their urban peers don’t, and school counselors frequently serve as the primary point of contact.
What School Counselors Do in Montana
A student in Havre comes in with slipping grades and a short fuse. Her teachers have noticed, but they’re stretched thin. Her counselor starts meeting with her weekly, connects with her parents, and realizes the academic slide started right around a family move last spring. Within a month, they’ve built a plan that addresses both the emotional disruption and the coursework gaps. That’s a typical week.
Montana school counselors work with students from kindergarten through 12th grade across four main areas: academic planning, career development, mental and emotional wellness, and crisis response. At the elementary level, that might mean running small-group sessions on conflict resolution or identifying students who need additional support. At the high school level, it shifts toward college applications, career exploration, and navigating the transition out of K-12.
Mental health support has become a central part of the role, particularly in rural districts. Counselors often coordinate with outside agencies when students need services beyond what the school can provide — such as substance use counselors, family therapists, and social workers. In communities without those services nearby, school counselors fill a larger share of the gap themselves.
Montana school counselors follow the ASCA National Model framework, which structures comprehensive counseling programs around data-driven goals and equitable access for every student. It’s the same framework used nationally, adapted to the realities of Montana’s schools.
Job Outlook in Montana
Montana projects 60 annual job openings for school counselors through 2032, with an 8% growth rate over that period, according to Montana labor projections. The state currently employs around 860 school counselors. A significant share of Montana schools — particularly in rural areas — have operated without a licensed counselor on staff in recent years, suggesting demand may exceed projections.
Rural districts have struggled most with recruitment and retention. That shortage has created real opportunity: counselors willing to work in rural or tribal communities are in high demand, and some positions come with relocation support or grant-funded incentives. If you’re open to working outside Montana’s larger cities, your options expand considerably.
The median salary for Montana school counselors is $59,480 per year — about $5,660 below the national median of $65,140. Pay varies significantly by location, with counselors in Billings earning considerably more than those in smaller markets.
School Counselor Salary in Montana
Montana’s median school counselor salary of $59,480 falls below the national median of $65,140, reflecting the state’s overall wage structure rather than an undervaluation of the role. If you’re comparing programs, consider earning your master’s degree in school counseling in the state where you plan to practice — Montana’s licensure requirements are specific, and alignment matters. Salaries vary considerably depending on district, location, and years of experience.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,080 |
| 25th | $45,680 |
| Median (50th) | $59,480 |
| 75th | $79,270 |
| 90th | $93,000 |
Pay differs meaningfully by metro area. Billings stands out as Montana’s highest-paying market, with a median well above the state figure. Missoula and Bozeman — both college towns with active counseling programs — come in below the state median, which is worth factoring in if you’re weighing where to work after graduation.
| Metro Area | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Billings, MT | $81,620 |
| East-Central Montana nonmetro area | $64,830 |
| Great Falls, MT | $63,960 |
| Helena, MT | $61,540 |
| West Montana nonmetro area | $56,730 |
| Missoula, MT | $48,580 |
Montana’s Push to Expand School Counselors in Rural Communities
A significant share of Montana schools — particularly in rural areas — have operated without a licensed counselor on staff in recent years. A federal grant awarded to Montana State University is working to change that.
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Education — as part of the Rural Mental Health Preparation Practice Pathway Partnership — awarded Montana State University and its partners $4.1 million to increase mental health service professionals in the rural, remote, and tribal regions of Montana. It builds on a previous $2.3 million grant awarded in 2019.
Partners include the University of Montana’s Department of Counseling, the Montana Office of Public Instruction, the Montana School Counselor Association, the Montana Small Schools Alliance, and MSU Extension.
The five-year project focuses on recruiting, preparing, and retaining school counselors to train counselors specifically to serve the state’s most remote and underserved schools. Funds cover graduate school costs, travel, and living expenses during the required internship. Students complete at least 600 hours of service in a rural community as part of the program.
- Real demand, documented shortage — Montana projects 60 annual job openings through 2032, and rural districts are actively recruiting.
- Salary varies by location — The statewide median is $59,480, but Billings counselors earn a median of $81,620, where you work matters.
- The job is broad — Montana counselors handle academic planning, career development, mental health support, and crisis response, often with limited backup in rural areas.
- Active investment in the pipeline — A $4.1 million federal grant through MSU is expanding the number of trained counselors in rural and tribal communities.
Ready to explore the path to becoming a Montana school counselor?
