New Report Shows Montana Falling Behind In Pay Increases

The cost of living these days is astronomical. Keeping up with the Joneses is no longer the goal. At this point it feels more like trying to keep up with the basics. Because of that, a lot of us are looking for ways to work smarter, not harder, and sometimes that means finding a place where wages are actually moving in the right direction.

A new study broke down which states are seeing the biggest pay raises. Before we get to Montana, here are the top five states showing the strongest growth. Nevada, Virginia, Florida, Arizona, and Indiana led the pack. Nevada saw the biggest jump with average hourly wages rising from 30.60 dollars to 32.55 dollars. That is a solid 6.37% increase that workers can actually feel.

Now for Montana. I wish I could say we were climbing the ranks, but the numbers tell a different story. Montana landed at 47th on the list. Instead of moving forward, our wages dipped by about -0.06%. The only states behind us were Colorado, South Dakota, and Massachusetts. So we are not dead last, but we are definitely not heading the right direction either.

The study used updated data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared wages from 2024 to 2025, and ranked each state by percentage change. With the cost of everything from rent to groceries still climbing, pay raises are becoming one of the few bright spots for workers nationwide. Even a small bump can help a household breathe a little easier.

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For many Montanans, though, the numbers highlight what we already feel. Costs are rising and wages are not keeping pace. It is a tough combo, and one worth paying attention to as we head into another year.