Counties in Montana by average weekly wage (QCEW)

Stillwater County had the highest average weekly wage (QCEW) of 56 counties in 2016, at $1,096. Garfield County had the lowest, at $514. The median was $678 and the figure for Montana was $783. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest1,096Stillwater County
Median67856 counties
Montana783History

Map of counties, 2016

Beaverhead County: 676 USDBig Horn County: 757 USDBlaine County: 664 USDBroadwater County: 665 USDCarbon County: 621 USDCarter County: 574 USDCascade County: 749 USDChouteau County: 594 USDCuster County: 693 USDDaniels County: 754 USDDawson County: 775 USDDeer Lodge County: 679 USDFallon County: 953 USDFergus County: 689 USDFlathead County: 755 USDGallatin County: 788 USDGarfield County: 514 USDGlacier County: 706 USDGolden Valley County: 536 USDGranite County: 599 USDHill County: 709 USDJefferson County: 805 USDJudith Basin County: 630 USDLake County: 653 USDLewis and Clark County: 847 USDLiberty County: 551 USDLincoln County: 642 USDMcCone County: 706 USDMadison County: 676 USDMeagher County: 531 USDMineral County: 564 USDMissoula County: 759 USDMusselshell County: 874 USDPark County: 639 USDPetroleum County: 524 USDPhillips County: 635 USDPondera County: 619 USDPowder River County: 581 USDPowell County: 739 USDPrairie County: 664 USDRavalli County: 671 USDRichland County: 957 USDRoosevelt County: 693 USDRosebud County: 924 USDSanders County: 595 USDSheridan County: 757 USDSilver Bow County: 781 USDStillwater County: 1,096 USDSweet Grass County: 928 USDTeton County: 642 USDToole County: 777 USDTreasure County: 638 USDValley County: 679 USDWheatland County: 609 USDWibaux County: 582 USDYellowstone County: 867 USD
  • Under 590
  • 590 to 640
  • 640 to 680
  • 680 to 750
  • 750 to 790
  • 790 and over
USD, 2016. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2016

Stillwater County: 1,096 USDStillwater County1,096Richland County: 957 USDRichland County957Fallon County: 953 USDFallon County953Sweet Grass County: 928 USDSweet Grass County928Rosebud County: 924 USDRosebud County924Musselshell County: 874 USDMusselshell County874Yellowstone County: 867 USDYellowstone County867Lewis and Clark County: 847 USDLewis and Clark County847Jefferson County: 805 USDJefferson County805Gallatin County: 788 USDGallatin County788Silver Bow County: 781 USDSilver Bow County781Toole County: 777 USDToole County777Dawson County: 775 USDDawson County775Missoula County: 759 USDMissoula County759Big Horn County: 757 USDBig Horn County757Sheridan County: 757 USDSheridan County757Flathead County: 755 USDFlathead County755Daniels County: 754 USDDaniels County754Cascade County: 749 USDCascade County749Powell County: 739 USDPowell County739Hill County: 709 USDHill County709Glacier County: 706 USDGlacier County706McCone County: 706 USDMcCone County706Custer County: 693 USDCuster County693Roosevelt County: 693 USDRoosevelt County693Fergus County: 689 USDFergus County689Deer Lodge County: 679 USDDeer Lodge County679Valley County: 679 USDValley County679Beaverhead County: 676 USDBeaverhead County676Madison County: 676 USDMadison County676Ravalli County: 671 USDRavalli County671Broadwater County: 665 USDBroadwater County665Blaine County: 664 USDBlaine County664Prairie County: 664 USDPrairie County664Lake County: 653 USDLake County653Lincoln County: 642 USDLincoln County642Teton County: 642 USDTeton County642Park County: 639 USDPark County639Treasure County: 638 USDTreasure County638Phillips County: 635 USDPhillips County635Judith Basin County: 630 USDJudith Basin County630Carbon County: 621 USDCarbon County621Pondera County: 619 USDPondera County619Wheatland County: 609 USDWheatland County609Granite County: 599 USDGranite County599Sanders County: 595 USDSanders County595Chouteau County: 594 USDChouteau County594Wibaux County: 582 USDWibaux County582Powder River County: 581 USDPowder River County581Carter County: 574 USDCarter County574Mineral County: 564 USDMineral County564Liberty County: 551 USDLiberty County551Golden Valley County: 536 USDGolden Valley County536Meagher County: 531 USDMeagher County531Petroleum County: 524 USDPetroleum County524Garfield County: 514 USDGarfield County514Stillwater County: 1,096 USDStillwater County1,096Richland County: 957 USDRichland County957Fallon County: 953 USDFallon County953Sweet Grass County: 928 USDSweet Grass County928Rosebud County: 924 USDRosebud County924Musselshell County: 874 USDMusselshell County874Yellowstone County: 867 USDYellowstone County867Lewis and Clark County: 847 USDLewis and Clark County847Jefferson County: 805 USDJefferson County805Gallatin County: 788 USDGallatin County788Silver Bow County: 781 USDSilver Bow County781Toole County: 777 USDToole County777Dawson County: 775 USDDawson County775Missoula County: 759 USDMissoula County759Big Horn County: 757 USDBig Horn County757Sheridan County: 757 USDSheridan County757Flathead County: 755 USDFlathead County755Daniels County: 754 USDDaniels County754Cascade County: 749 USDCascade County749Powell County: 739 USDPowell County739Hill County: 709 USDHill County709Glacier County: 706 USDGlacier County706McCone County: 706 USDMcCone County706Custer County: 693 USDCuster County693Roosevelt County: 693 USDRoosevelt County693Fergus County: 689 USDFergus County689Deer Lodge County: 679 USDDeer Lodge County679Valley County: 679 USDValley County679Beaverhead County: 676 USDBeaverhead County676Madison County: 676 USDMadison County676Ravalli County: 671 USDRavalli County671Broadwater County: 665 USDBroadwater County665Blaine County: 664 USDBlaine County664Prairie County: 664 USDPrairie County664Lake County: 653 USDLake County653Lincoln County: 642 USDLincoln County642Teton County: 642 USDTeton County642Park County: 639 USDPark County639Treasure County: 638 USDTreasure County638Phillips County: 635 USDPhillips County635Judith Basin County: 630 USDJudith Basin County630Carbon County: 621 USDCarbon County621Pondera County: 619 USDPondera County619Wheatland County: 609 USDWheatland County609Granite County: 599 USDGranite County599Sanders County: 595 USDSanders County595Chouteau County: 594 USDChouteau County594Wibaux County: 582 USDWibaux County582Powder River County: 581 USDPowder River County581Carter County: 574 USDCarter County574Mineral County: 564 USDMineral County564Liberty County: 551 USDLiberty County551Golden Valley County: 536 USDGolden Valley County536Meagher County: 531 USDMeagher County531Petroleum County: 524 USDPetroleum County524Garfield County: 514 USDGarfield County514
USD. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2016
USD
Change on 2015
1Stillwater County1,096-0.6%
2Richland County957-7.8%
3Fallon County953-6.2%
4Sweet Grass County928+0.2%
5Rosebud County924+0.2%
6Musselshell County874-4.8%
7Yellowstone County867+0.7%
8Lewis and Clark County847+2.2%
9Jefferson County805+7.3%
10Gallatin County788+3.5%
11Silver Bow County781+0.8%
12Toole County777-0.8%
13Dawson County775-2.1%
14Missoula County759+2.6%
15Big Horn County757-1.3%
15Sheridan County757-1%
17Flathead County755+2%
18Daniels County754+4%
19Cascade County749+2.9%
20Powell County739+1%
21Hill County709+4.6%
22Glacier County706+2.8%
22McCone County706-3.9%
24Custer County693-2.9%
24Roosevelt County693+0.3%
26Fergus County689+4.2%
27Deer Lodge County679+2.9%
27Valley County679-1.6%
29Beaverhead County676+2.3%
29Madison County676+1.8%
31Ravalli County671+3.2%
32Broadwater County665-2.9%
33Blaine County664+5.1%
33Prairie County664-5.7%
35Lake County653+1.2%
36Lincoln County642-1.5%
36Teton County642+0.3%
38Park County639+3.7%
39Treasure County638-1.4%
40Phillips County635+3.8%
41Judith Basin County630-1.3%
42Carbon County6210%
43Pondera County619+0.2%
44Wheatland County609+0.7%
45Granite County599+3.5%
46Sanders County595+1.7%
47Chouteau County594+1%
48Wibaux County582-0.3%
49Powder River County581+6.2%
50Carter County574+2.9%
51Mineral County564+0.9%
52Liberty County551-1.6%
53Golden Valley County536-2.2%
54Meagher County531+0.4%
55Petroleum County524-9%
56Garfield County514+2.4%

Other periods

About this ranking

Total wages paid during the year divided by the average number of covered jobs and by 52, in US dollars, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counted where the job is located, from the reports employers file each quarter; monthly employment counts the jobs in the pay period that includes the 12th.

In current dollars, not adjusted for inflation. An average per job, so part-time jobs pull it down and high earners pull it up; for the typical job use median_annual_wage. Wages include bonuses, stock options exercised, severance pay and tips, which makes counties with corporate headquarters stand out. Covers about 95 percent of US wage and salary jobs. Excludes the self-employed, most agricultural workers on small farms, the armed forces, elected officials in most states, most railroad employees, some domestic workers and most student workers at schools.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in Montana by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Montana by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2016. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/montana-counties?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in Montana by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/montana-counties?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Montana by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/montana-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_montana_by_2016,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Montana by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/montana-counties?period=2016. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Montana by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2016
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/montana-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/montana-counties?period=2016.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank Counties in Montana by average weekly wage (QCEW) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"average_weekly_wage","level":"province","within":"Montana","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=average_weekly_wage&level=province&within=Montana&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which county has the highest average weekly wage (QCEW)?

Stillwater County, with $1,096 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest average weekly wage (QCEW)?

Garfield County, with $514 in 2016.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Average weekly wage (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in Montana: more rankings