BLS - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

12/12/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/12/2024 10:12

County Employment and Wages in Montana– Second Quarter 2024

News Release Information

24-2540-KAN
Thursday, December 12, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (816) 285-7000

County Employment and Wages in Montana- Second Quarter 2024

Employment rose 0.8 percent in Montana's only large county, Yellowstone, from June 2023 to June 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are the 369 U.S. counties or county equivalents with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the rate of employment growth in Yellowstone County ranked 151st among the 355 largest counties with published data. (See table 1.)

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 259 of the 355 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.0 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-3.0 percent).

Employment in Yellowstone County stood at 89,000 in June 2024, accounting for 16.8 percent of total employment in Montana. Within Yellowstone County's private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprised 73.1 percent of total covered employment in the United States.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 55 counties in Montana with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 55 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

The average weekly wage in Yellowstone County increased 3.0 percent from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024, ranking 276th among the largest U.S. counties.

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.4 percent over the year. Among the 351 largest counties in the United States with published data, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Hamilton, IN, had the largest percentage wage increase (+33.4 percent). Essex, MA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-2.1 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

The average weekly wage in Yellowstone County was $1,176 in the second quarter of 2024, ranking 222nd in the nation. Among the 360 largest U.S. counties with published data, 87 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2024. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,632). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 273 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($820).

Smaller county average weekly wages

All 55 smaller counties in Montana-those with employment below 75,000- reported an average weekly wage below the national average. Stillwater County ($1,343) reported the highest average weekly wage. Garfield County ($708) and Petroleum County ($712) had the lowest average weekly wages in the state.

When all 56 counties in Montana were considered, 13 reported average weekly wages of less than $850, 16 registered wages from $850 to $949, 13 had wages from $950 to $1,049, and 14 had average weekly wages of $1,050 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Montana, second quarter 2024

(U.S. average = $1,390)

Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release or visit the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

The County Employment and Wages release for the third quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
The County Employment and Wages full data update for the third quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the largest county in Montana, second quarter 2024
Area Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands) 		Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2024
(thousands) 		Percent change,
June
2023-24 (2) 		National ranking
by percent change (3) 		Second quarter
2024 ($) 		National ranking
by level (3) 		Percent change,
second quarter
2023-24 (2) 		National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,238.2 155,710.2 0.8 -- 1,390 -- 4.4 --

Montana

63.3 528.8 1.5 -- 1,113 46 3.8 37

Yellowstone

7.7 89.0 0.8 151 1,176 222 3.0 276

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications.
(3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Montana, second quarter 2024
Area Establishments Employment June 2024 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,238,175 155,710,239 1,390

Montana

63,259 528,815 1,113

Beaverhead

584 4,213 950

Big Horn

270 3,946 1,069

Blaine

203 1,293 951

Broadwater

258 1,531 874

Carbon

637 3,211 931

Carter

56 329 865

Cascade

3,170 37,616 1,019

Chouteau

232 1,328 827

Custer

555 5,632 936

Daniels

100 625 933

Dawson

402 3,453 986

Deer Lodge

346 3,469 1,007

Fallon

181 1,363 1,120

Fergus

573 4,808 928

Flathead

6,883 52,617 1,071

Gallatin

9,658 74,844 1,191

Garfield

72 309 708

Glacier

341 4,642 999

Golden Valley

52 230 922

Granite

187 1,048 826

Hill

598 6,877 941

Jefferson

490 2,840 1,054

Judith Basin

114 568 826

Lake

1,285 10,196 917

Lewis and Clark

3,710 40,945 1,151

Liberty

96 558 758

Lincoln

949 6,528 909

McCone

78 575 948

Madison

610 3,407 1,032

Meagher

138 655 805

Mineral

205 1,309 866

Missoula

6,814 67,918 1,106

Musselshell

197 1,402 1,109

Park

1,281 8,091 952

Petroleum

25 109 712

Phillips

184 1,166 829

Pondera

233 1,579 861

Powder River

106 607 944

Powell

248 2,608 1,065

Prairie

59 485 827

Ravalli

2,369 14,129 982

Richland

645 5,382 1,172

Roosevelt

272 3,432 955

Rosebud

260 3,837 1,311

Sanders

569 3,357 883

Sheridan

222 1,324 930

Silver Bow

1,467 16,801 1,043

Stillwater

396 3,431 1,343

Sweet Grass

271 1,751 1,231

Teton

328 1,878 836

Toole

238 1,823 1,021

Treasure

34 212 790

Valley

354 3,055 958

Wheatland

105 669 821

Wibaux

43 261 760

Yellowstone

7,732 89,017 1,176

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, second quarter 2024
State Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands) 		Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2024
(thousands) 		Percent change,
June
2023-24 		Second quarter
2024 ($) 		National ranking
by level 		Percent change,
second quarter
2023-24 		National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,238.2 155,710.2 0.8 1,390 -- 4.4 --

Alabama

162.9 2,111.1 1.2 1,150 36 3.9 35

Alaska

25.4 345.9 0.8 1,345 15 4.5 17

Arizona

221.3 3,137.3 1.1 1,324 18 4.6 16

Arkansas

101.7 1,299.9 1.0 1,074 49 4.1 30

California

1,878.6 18,193.5 0.4 1,697 4 4.4 20

Colorado

268.9 2,909.4 -0.2 1,487 8 4.2 25

Connecticut

151.4 1,702.2 0.4 1,569 6 3.8 37

Delaware

43.8 481.0 0.9 1,322 19 5.4 6

District of Columbia

52.3 764.0 0.1 2,283 1 4.2 25

Florida

903.5 9,700.1 1.4 1,278 21 3.6 43

Georgia

392.2 4,867.7 1.2 1,297 20 4.2 25

Hawaii

59.6 640.9 0.8 1,273 22 5.8 3

Idaho

101.0 867.3 1.2 1,096 48 5.6 4

Illinois

410.2 6,115.5 0.0 1,401 12 3.4 44

Indiana

192.5 3,187.3 0.4 1,171 33 6.4 2

Iowa

111.3 1,588.0 0.2 1,118 45 3.3 45

Kansas

100.9 1,435.8 0.5 1,124 43 4.0 31

Kentucky

157.1 1,995.9 1.0 1,146 38 4.3 23

Louisiana

155.9 1,904.3 0.6 1,144 40 4.7 12

Maine

65.7 666.1 1.1 1,167 35 4.2 25

Maryland

210.5 2,778.5 1.5 1,454 9 3.8 37

Massachusetts

287.6 3,708.1 0.2 1,758 3 5.0 8

Michigan

345.1 4,480.5 0.4 1,266 23 3.9 35

Minnesota

212.2 2,985.5 0.5 1,359 14 3.3 45

Mississippi

89.8 1,163.8 0.1 960 51 4.0 31

Missouri

245.3 2,927.1 0.6 1,186 32 3.1 48

Montana

63.3 528.8 1.5 1,113 46 3.8 37

Nebraska

77.1 1,030.9 0.7 1,122 44 2.7 51

Nevada

108.6 1,548.9 1.6 1,243 28 4.5 17

New Hampshire

66.7 699.6 0.5 1,443 10 4.0 31

New Jersey

338.5 4,361.1 0.9 1,516 7 3.3 45

New Mexico

68.4 871.9 1.2 1,150 36 4.4 20

New York

712.7 9,762.4 1.3 1,687 5 4.0 31

North Carolina

379.6 4,902.0 0.9 1,256 25 4.8 9

North Dakota

36.5 437.4 1.5 1,221 30 3.1 48

Ohio

341.2 5,558.1 0.4 1,214 31 4.7 12

Oklahoma

129.3 1,684.7 0.8 1,101 47 4.7 12

Oregon

196.1 2,019.2 -0.1 1,338 16 4.8 9

Pennsylvania

393.6 6,067.5 0.8 1,325 17 3.8 37

Rhode Island

48.8 504.7 1.1 1,257 24 2.9 50

South Carolina

188.4 2,290.1 1.8 1,134 41 5.1 7

South Dakota

40.2 470.3 0.7 1,074 49 3.8 37

Tennessee

234.9 3,287.4 1.3 1,248 27 4.2 25

Texas

840.9 13,905.7 1.2 1,381 13 4.5 17

Utah

138.2 1,715.2 0.8 1,249 26 5.6 4

Vermont

32.8 310.8 0.0 1,227 29 4.3 23

Virginia

319.9 4,140.8 1.4 1,436 11 4.8 9

Washington

234.7 3,674.3 1.0 1,776 2 7.4 1

West Virginia

61.7 700.1 0.6 1,127 42 4.7 12

Wisconsin

208.5 2,990.8 0.4 1,168 34 3.7 42

Wyoming

31.0 290.9 0.5 1,145 39 4.4 20

Puerto Rico

54.5 944.0 1.3 651 (3) 4.7 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.9 36.4 -0.1 1,010 (3) 1.5 (3)

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(3) Data not included in the national ranking.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.