Employment rose 0.6 percent in Montana’s only large county, Yellowstone, from March 2024 to March 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the rate of employment growth in Yellowstone ranked 141^st among the 364 largest U.S. counties with published data. (See table 1.)

Employment in Yellowstone stood at 86,700 in March 2025, accounting for 17.1 percent of total employment in Montana. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)

The average weekly wage in Yellowstone increased 4.7 percent over the year to $1,234. The national average was $1,589, up 4.1 percent over the year. Yellowstone’s weekly wage ranked 259^th nationally, and the percent change ranked 71^st among the largest U.S. counties.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 55 small counties in Montana, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels for all 55 smaller counties were below the national average. Stillwater reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,375). Garfield reported the lowest average weekly wage ($644) in the state.

Among all 56 Montana counties, 11 reported average weekly wages of $849 or lower, 20 registered wages from $850 to $999, 14 had wages from $1,000 to $1,149, and 11 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)