What share of people in Montana are working?

61.4% of residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force in September 2026, and 59.5% had a job; tied for 21st lowest of 51 for labor force participation (50 states and DC combined: 61.6%).

Economy, jobs and prices in Montana, United States: official figures

The economy of Montana (gross domestic product) was worth $80.9 billion in 2025 at current prices, 0.3% of the US total of $30.86 trillion; 4th smallest of 51. In current dollars it was up 4.9% on 2024.

GDP (current dollars)

$80.9 billion

2025

GDP per resident

$70,713

2025

Personal income per person

$72,066

2025

Median household income

$75,340

2024

Unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted)

3.1%

September 2026

Average annual pay (QCEW)

$62,882

2025

Median household income

$75,520

2024

Median gross rent (monthly)

$1,177

2024

How fast is the economy of Montana growing?

After adjusting for inflation, real GDP in Montana grew 2.0% in 2025, against 2.3% for the United States; 24th fastest-growing of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the GDP per capita of Montana?

Dividing 2025 GDP by the Census Bureau's population estimate gives $70,713 of output per resident, against $90,294 for the US economy divided by the population of the 50 states and DC; 9th lowest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Is the economy of Montana growing or shrinking?

In the second quarter of 2026, real GDP in Montana grew at an annual rate of 0.1% (United States: 2.2%); 7th slowest-growing of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What are the main industries in Montana?

In 2025 the largest private industry in Montana's economy was real estate, rental and leasing (14.6% of GDP), followed by health care and social assistance (9.8%) and retail trade (7.1%). Government accounted for 12.4% and manufacturing for 5.0%; the manufacturing share was 8th lowest of 51 (United States: 9.5%).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

How much do people in Montana spend?

Consumer spending (personal consumption expenditures) in Montana came to $61,349 per person in 2025 (United States: $61,062); 19th highest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Is Montana expensive to live in?

Prices in Montana were 5.4% below the national average in 2024, by BEA's regional price parity of 94.6 (US = 100), which covers goods, services and housing; 22nd least expensive of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the inflation rate in Montana?

Prices in Montana rose 6.7% in 2024, measured by BEA's implicit regional price deflator, against 2.6% nationally (PCE price index).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the per capita income in Montana?

Personal income per person in Montana was $72,066 in 2025, against $77,028 for the United States; 25th lowest of 51. It was up 4.7% on 2024 and up 34.5% on 2020, before inflation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the disposable income per person in Montana?

After taxes, disposable personal income per person was $63,141 in 2025 (United States: $67,251); 24th lowest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

How far does income go in Montana?

Adjusted for local price levels, real personal income per person in Montana was $59,203 in 2024 in 2017 dollars (United States: $59,195); 20th highest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the median household income in Montana?

Median household income in Montana was $75,340 in 2024 (margin of error ±$1,635), against $81,604 for the United States; 16th lowest of 51 by the point estimate. It was up 3.4% on 2023 after adjusting for inflation (American Community Survey).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Montana?

The Gini index of household income inequality in Montana was 0.458 in 2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 means one household has everything; United States: 0.481); 19th least unequal of 51.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Montana?

The unemployment rate in Montana was 3.1% in September 2026 (seasonally adjusted, preliminary), down from 3.5% a year earlier; 8th lowest of 51. The rate for the 50 states and DC combined was 4.2%.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

How many people are unemployed in Montana?

In September 2026, 17,888 people in Montana were unemployed and 556,761 employed, out of a labor force of 574,649.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What was the unemployment rate in Montana in 2025?

Over 2025 the unemployment rate in Montana averaged 3.3% (an 11-month average: October 2025 was not collected during the federal shutdown), against 3.0% in 2024; 9th lowest of 51. The lowest annual rate since 1976 was 2.7% in 2022.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the average salary in Montana?

Workers covered by unemployment insurance in Montana were paid $62,882 on average in 2025 ($1,209 a week), up 4.7% on 2024; the US average was $78,720. That is 8th lowest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

How many jobs are there in Montana?

Employers in Montana had an average of 512,424 jobs on their payrolls in 2025 across 61,060 establishments, down 0.1% on 2024 (United States: up 0.5%).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the median wage in Montana?

The median annual wage across all occupations in Montana was $48,740 in May 2025 (mean $60,880); 22nd lowest of 51. One in ten workers earned less than $29,390 and one in ten more than $100,610.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the most common job in Montana?

The most common occupation in Montana in May 2025 was fast food and counter workers, with 14,960 workers and a median annual wage of $29,090.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the median household income in Montana?

Median household income in Montana was $75,520 in 2024, 17th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $81,604). In 2019 it was $57,248, so it has risen 31.9% before allowing for inflation.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Montana?

The median gross rent in Montana, including utilities, was $1,177 a month in 2024, up 8.7% on 2023 ($1,083); 20th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $1,487).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the median home value in Montana?

Homeowners in Montana valued their homes at a median of $425,400 in 2024, up 8.4% on 2023 ($392,300); 17th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $360,600).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Montana?

The median home value in Montana was 5.6 times the median household income in 2024 ($425,400 against $75,520); 9th highest ratio among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 4.4).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is rent affordable in Montana?

A household on the median income in Montana would spend 18.7% of its income on the median rent of $1,177 a month in 2024 (U.S.: 21.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Montana compares with other states

Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars) (2025)

Montana ranks 48 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars)
45	Rhode Island	$88.2 billion
46	North Dakota	$82.3 billion
47	South Dakota	$82.0 billion
48	Montana	$80.9 billion
49	Alaska	$73.6 billion
50	Wyoming	$52.5 billion
51	Vermont	$49.7 billion

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population) (2025)

Montana ranks 43 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population)
40	Michigan	$72,462
41	Maine	$71,898
42	New Mexico	$71,569
43	Montana	$70,713
44	Kentucky	$68,065
45	South Carolina	$67,929
46	Idaho	$67,695

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real GDP growth, 2025 (2025)

Montana ranks 24 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2025
21	Tennessee	2.1%
22	New Jersey	2.0%
23	Nevada	2.0%
24	Montana	2.0%
25	Alabama	2.0%
26	Vermont	1.9%
27	Colorado	1.9%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate) (2026:Q2)

Montana ranks 45 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate)
42	New Mexico	0.4%
43	Oklahoma	0.3%
44	Louisiana	0.2%
45	Montana	0.1%
46	Nebraska	-0.1%
47	Kansas	-0.6%
48	North Dakota	-0.9%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Personal income per person, 2025 (2025)

Montana ranks 27 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Personal income per person, 2025
24	Nevada	$73,767
25	Oregon	$73,283
26	Texas	$73,156
27	Montana	$72,066
28	Maine	$71,742
29	Wisconsin	$71,219
30	Utah	$70,323

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars) (2024)

Montana ranks 20 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars)
17	Illinois	$60,333
18	Alaska	$60,272
19	Iowa	$60,144
20	Montana	$59,203
21	Kansas	$59,172
22	Vermont	$58,893
23	Oklahoma	$58,692

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Median household income, 2024 (ACS) (2024)

Montana ranks 36 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Median household income, 2024 (ACS)
33	Wyoming	$75,532
34	Kansas	$75,514
35	Iowa	$75,501
36	Montana	$75,340
37	North Carolina	$73,958
38	Michigan	$72,389
39	South Carolina	$72,350

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100) (2024)

Montana ranks 30 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100)
27	Georgia	96.3
28	Michigan	96.2
29	Idaho	95.5
30	Montana	94.6
31	North Carolina	94.3
32	Wisconsin	94.1
33	South Carolina	93.7

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted) (September 2026)

Montana ranks 44 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted)
41	Maine	3.3%
42	Wisconsin	3.2%
43	Iowa	3.2%
44	Montana	3.1%
45	Wyoming	3.0%
46	Nebraska	2.9%
47	Hawaii	2.8%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average (2025)

Montana ranks 43 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average
40	Oklahoma	3.4%
41	Maine	3.4%
42	Wyoming	3.4%
43	Montana	3.3%
44	Wisconsin	3.2%
45	New Hampshire	3.2%
46	Nebraska	3.0%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Labor force participation rate, September 2026 (September 2026)

Montana ranks 31 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Labor force participation rate, September 2026
28	Oklahoma	61.9%
29	California	61.4%
30	Idaho	61.4%
31	Montana	61.4%
32	New York	61.3%
33	Hawaii	61.3%
34	Ohio	61.2%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW) (2025)

Montana ranks 44 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW)
41	New Mexico	$63,124
42	Louisiana	$63,090
43	Nebraska	$63,063
44	Montana	$62,882
45	Kentucky	$62,521
46	Idaho	$62,392
47	Arkansas	$61,152

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS) (May 2025)

Montana ranks 30 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS)
27	Ohio	$49,380
28	Michigan	$49,270
29	Nebraska	$48,980
30	Montana	$48,740
31	Texas	$48,620
32	Iowa	$48,540
33	Georgia	$48,170

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Median household income (2024)

Montana ranks 35 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates

Rank	Region	Median household income
32	Nebraska	$76,578
33	Maine	$76,372
34	Iowa	$75,623
35	Montana	$75,520
36	Kansas	$75,402
37	North Carolina	$74,055
38	South Carolina	$72,507

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent (monthly) (2024)

Montana ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Renter-occupied units paying cash rent

Rank	Region	Median gross rent (monthly)
29	South Carolina	$1,272
30	Pennsylvania	$1,252
31	Maine	$1,210
32	Montana	$1,177
33	Michigan	$1,168
34	Wisconsin	$1,142
35	New Mexico	$1,117

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2024)

Montana ranks 17 of 51, highest first. Owner-reported value

Rank	Region	Median value of owner-occupied homes
14	Idaho	$446,400
15	Maryland	$436,300
16	Arizona	$426,000
17	Montana	$425,400
18	Virginia	$403,500
19	Florida	$396,900
20	Connecticut	$396,900

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Montana: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau: Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2024 (ACSBR-025), Appendix Table 1: median household income and Gini index by state, 2023 and 2024 American Community Survey, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5de1b0d5ec46…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SASUMMARY: State annual summary statistics: personal income, GDP, consumer spending, price indexes, and employment (updated 30 September 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a3757d207c05…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SAGDP: Annual GDP by state, 1997-2025 (table SAGDP2, GDP in current dollars by industry), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3d3c5bc7bd24…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SQGDP: Quarterly GDP by state, 2005-2026 Q2 (table SQGDP11, percent change in real GDP at annual rate), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1649260cdceb…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, monthly, seasonally adjusted, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bb6f18d4145…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, annual averages 1976-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 262aba7d00df…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates (state_M2025_dl.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 74d5be0e1df8…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages, all industries (open data CSV slice), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5a5f89142aae…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median gross rent (B25064), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8624f9775add…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median value of owner-occupied homes (B25077), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27120d5d8a5f…)
U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)

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