Employment fell 0.8 percent in Montana’s only large county, Yellowstone, from December 2024 to December 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Acting Regional Commissioner Jerome Watters noted that the rate of employment change in Yellowstone ranked 282^nd among the 366 largest U.S. counties with published data. (See table 1.)

Employment in Yellowstone stood at 87,100 in December 2025, accounting for 17.0 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 3.3 percent over the year to $1,355. The national average was $1,569, up 4.2 percent over the year. Yellowstone’s weekly wage ranked 197^th nationally, and the percent change ranked 263^rd 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 54 of the 55 smaller counties were below the national average. Treasure reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,594) in the state. Petroleum reported the lowest average weekly wage ($711).

Among all 56 Montana counties, 11 reported average weekly wages less than $950, 14 had wages from $950 to $1,049, 12 had wages from $1,050 to $1,149, 9 had wages from $1,150 to $1,249, and 10 had average weekly wages of $1,250 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)