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Montana Economy

Unemployment was 3.1% in Sep 2026, the 8th lowest of 51 states. Personal income averages $69,240 per person.

Unemployment rate
3.1%
-0.4 pts in a year
Labor force
574,649
-0.7% in a year
Income per person
$69,240
BEA, 2024
Average annual pay
$62,882
QCEW, 2025

Unemployment rate in Montana

Monthly, seasonally adjusted, compared with the U.S.

MontanaUnited States
Show as a table
PeriodMontana
Sep 20263.1%
Dec 20253.6%
Dec 20242.9%
Dec 20233.1%
Dec 20222.5%
Dec 20212.7%
Dec 20204.2%
Dec 20193.5%
Dec 20183.6%
Dec 20174.0%
Dec 20164.2%
Dec 20154.3%
Dec 20144.4%
Dec 20135.0%
Dec 20125.5%
Beta

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics ยท Last updated 09/01/2026

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Counties in Montana

Unemployment (Sep 2026, not seasonally adjusted), income per person (BEA) and average pay (QCEW). Largest labor force first.

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#CountyUnemployment1 yearLabor forceIncome per personAverage pay
1Yellowstone County2.5%-0.6 pts87,838$72,985$64,980
2Gallatin County2.0%-0.4 pts78,176$94,573$70,519
3Missoula County2.3%-0.6 pts71,518$74,223$63,053
4Flathead County2.4%-0.6 pts60,933$73,843$60,562
5Cascade County2.6%-0.6 pts38,556$63,865$58,416
6Lewis and Clark County2.4%-0.6 pts37,289$67,391$65,290
7Ravalli County2.8%-0.7 pts20,799$68,354$55,614
8Silver Bow County2.9%-0.6 pts17,193$62,254$58,119
9Lake County2.8%-0.9 pts14,715$53,778$54,190
10Park County1.9%-0.5 pts11,286$71,155$54,822
11Lincoln County4.3%-0.5 pts8,380$50,196$49,036
12Hill County2.6%-0.6 pts7,114$57,147$51,953
13Custer County2.1%-0.5 pts6,387$58,945$52,184
14Jefferson County2.3%-0.6 pts6,259$68,296$57,412
15Glacier County3.7%-0.5 pts6,093$49,371$53,756
16Fergus County2.1%-0.6 pts6,020$56,801$51,109
17Carbon County2.3%-0.7 pts5,687$71,349$51,342
18Richland County2.0%-0.5 pts5,674$76,508$63,740
19Sanders County3.8%-1.1 pts4,942$49,189$48,888
20Beaverhead County1.9%-0.8 pts4,724$62,086$51,033
21Stillwater County2.3%-0.8 pts4,661$71,714$69,484
22Big Horn County4.5%-1.1 pts4,383$39,918$56,360
23Deer Lodge County3.1%-0.4 pts4,375$53,613$55,473
24Dawson County2.3%-0.6 pts4,176$55,246$51,550
25Broadwater County2.4%-0.3 pts4,087$57,021$48,135
All 56 counties, A to Z

Jobs and pay by industry in Montana

Private employers, annual average 2025 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

IndustryJobs1-year changeAverage pay
Health care and social assistance75,656+1.7%$67,266
Retail trade63,172+0.6%$42,443
Accommodation and food services60,168-0.2%$29,881
Construction36,854-1.0%$75,949
Professional and technical services28,883+0.1%$108,351
Administrative and support services22,459+3.9%$56,564
Manufacturing20,947-2.2%$71,543
Wholesale trade18,908-1.0%$86,181
Other services18,861-2.8%$46,013
Finance and insurance16,961-0.1%$101,629
Arts, entertainment and recreation13,273+2.2%$27,568
Transportation and warehousing13,168-1.5%$61,476
Agriculture, forestry and fishing6,925-0.2%$56,158
Real estate and rental6,654-0.5%$58,824
Educational services5,764-1.3%$43,461
Information5,717+4.0%$113,987
Mining, oil and gas5,280-12.6%$105,437
Utilities3,053+4.2%$114,368
Management of companies2,265-4.3%$104,541

Government employs 85,342 people (16.7% of all jobs): 13,685 federal, 23,579 state and 48,078 local.

Output and businesses in Montana

Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau

GDP
$78.4B
2024, current dollars
Real GDP growth
+3.4%
Adjusted for inflation
Employer businesses
42,566
409,312 employees
  • Construction6,76615.9%
  • Retail trade4,70611.1%
  • Health care and social assistance4,48810.5%
  • Professional and technical services4,38610.3%
  • Accommodation and food services3,8509.0%
  • Other services3,6078.5%
  • Real estate and rental2,5295.9%
  • Administrative and support services2,2315.2%
  • Finance and insurance2,0574.8%
  • Wholesale trade1,5823.7%

Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts; Census County Business Patterns 2023

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Frequently asked questions

What is the unemployment rate in Montana?
Montana's unemployment rate was 3.1% in Sep 2026, seasonally adjusted, compared with 4.2% for the U.S.
Which county in Montana has the highest unemployment?
Big Horn County has the highest rate at 4.5%, and Treasure County has the lowest at 1.4% (not seasonally adjusted).
What is the largest industry in Montana?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private employer with 75,656 jobs, followed by retail trade (63,172) and accommodation and food services (60,168).
What is the average salary in Montana?
The average annual pay for jobs covered by unemployment insurance in Montana was $62,882 in 2025, or $1,209 a week.
How big is Montana's economy?
Montana's GDP was $78.4B in 2024, about $68,975 per resident.