Montana Income Statistics
Montana Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Montana Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in Montana
- Fallon County (114% of U.S. avg)
- Daniels County (109% of U.S. avg)
- Sheridan County (109% of U.S. avg)
- Glacier County (77% of U.S. avg)
- Roosevelt County (78% of U.S. avg)
- Blaine County (79% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Montana | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Montana is about 10% lower than in US. Income has been growing faster in Montana (5.2%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Montana earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Montana grew by 68.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $72,476 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Montana
| Metric | Montana | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 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 Montana, it is 0.523, lower than US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 28% more than women's income in Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $497,665 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Montana has narrowed from about 28% to 22% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,829 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Montana | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 20,601 people are unemployed in Montana.
The average commute time in Montana is 16 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Montana has fallen from 6.4% to 3.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.3% in 2013.
Montana Wealth Compared With Nearby States
Montana is the 4th largest of the 6 states compared here, 1,116,812 residents against a local median of 1,929,983. Nothing separates Montana sharply from the states around it. Each measure below lands within 15% of the local median, close enough that the differences are within what survey sampling alone would produce.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 7% below the local median at $72,476 against $78,141. Montana has the 6th highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 1,116,812 | $72,476 #6/6 | 5.2%/yr #4/6 | 3.6% #3/6 | 0.523 #3/6 |
| Wyoming | 582,314 | $76,390 | 3.2%/yr | 3.7% | 0.519 |
| Idaho | 1,929,983 | $78,141 | 6.0%/yr | 3.7% | 0.542 |
| Utah | 3,390,702 | $95,466 | 5.4%/yr | 3.5% | 0.551 |
| Colorado | 5,842,429 | $95,803 | 5.4%/yr | 4.6% | 0.524 |
| North Dakota | 784,730 | $76,862 | 3.3%/yr | 2.7% | 0.506 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Montana has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Montana.
How Rich Is Montana?
Montana has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $72,476, about 10% lower than the US average of $80,455.
How has median household income changed in Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Montana rose 68%, from $43,102 to $72,476. Over the same years, income here outpaced the U.S. as a whole: +68% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Montana in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Montana was $69,624, up 5% from $66,231 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in Montana in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Montana was $56,795. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $72,476.
Is it hard to find a job in Montana?
Unemployment in Montana is only 3.6%, well below the US rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Montana is 0.523. 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 Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Montana has narrowed from about 28% to 22% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,829 since 2009.
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