Musselshell County, Montana Income Statistics
Musselshell County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Musselshell County Well below averageLess wealthy than 82% of counties in Montana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Musselshell County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,855 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,071 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.0% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.3% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Musselshell County is about 19% lower than in Montana. Income has been growing slower in Musselshell County (4.4%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Musselshell County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Montana average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Musselshell County, Montana grew by 80.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $58,855 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Musselshell County
| Metric | Musselshell County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.534 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,914 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,278 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.5% | 22.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Musselshell County, it is 0.534, higher than Montana's 0.523, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 38% more than women's income in Musselshell County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 38% wage gap accumulates to roughly $547,260 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Musselshell County, Montana has narrowed from about 41% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 44% in 2016, and was narrowest at 8% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $219 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Musselshell County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 22.8% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 216 people are unemployed in Musselshell County, Montana.
The average commute time in Musselshell County is 17 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Musselshell County, Montana has risen from 4.3% to 9.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 4.3% in 2014.
Musselshell County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Musselshell County, MT is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 5,152 residents against a local median of 897. The measure that sets Musselshell County, MT apart most is unemployment: 9.2%, more than 5 times the local median of 1.5%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves sit within 3.2% of each other on unemployment, a tighter band than the gap between any of them and Musselshell County, MT, which makes it a genuine outlier here rather than one end of a wide local spread. Musselshell County, MT has the 6th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musselshell County, MT | 5,152 | $58,855 #5/6 | 4.4%/yr #4/6 | 9.2% #6/6 | 0.534 #5/6 |
| Yellowstone County, MT | 168,956 | $77,024 | 4.2%/yr | 3.4% | 0.511 |
| Petroleum County, MT | 447 | $60,208 | 7.5%/yr | 1.0% | 0.456 |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 897 | $54,482 | 3.0%/yr | 1.5% | 0.565 |
| Fergus County, MT | 11,687 | $63,883 | 5.0%/yr | 4.2% | 0.504 |
| Treasure County, MT | 732 | $67,777 | 6.2%/yr | 1.0% | 0.472 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Musselshell County, Montana has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Montana, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Musselshell County, Montana.
How Rich Is Musselshell County, Montana?
Musselshell County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $58,855, about 19% lower than the Montana average of $72,476.
How fast is household income rising in Musselshell County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Musselshell County, Montana rose 80%, from $32,666 to $58,855. Over the same years, income here outpaced Montana as a whole: +80% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Musselshell County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Musselshell County, Montana was $58,467, up 9% from $53,878 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Musselshell County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Musselshell County, Montana was $45,911. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $58,855.
Is it hard to find a job in Musselshell County, Montana?
Unemployment in Musselshell County, Montana is 9.2%, well above the Montana rate of 3.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Musselshell County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Musselshell County is 0.534. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Musselshell County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Musselshell County, Montana has narrowed from about 41% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 44% in 2016, and was narrowest at 8% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $219 since 2009.
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