Billings: Economy & Jobs
$73,712 is the median household income in Billings (about the same as Yellowstone County median $76,570; about the same as Montana median $72,509), with homes at a median value of $343,400. The surrounding county supports 87,348 jobs (avg $62,688).
- $82,749 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (at Montana median).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $73,712 — near the Montana median ($70,392). Poverty rate 9.8% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 41% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.7× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 17.9% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 40.6% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 9.8% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.9% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $83,370 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $6,898,779 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $82,749 (at Montana median) |
| Income Estimate | $81,880 |
| Median Household Income | $73,712 (vs Montana $70,392) |
| Poverty Rate | 9.8% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $73,712 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.3% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 8% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 16.50 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 8.5% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 87,348 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $5,475,654,209 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $62,688 |
| All Occupations · Employment | 501,730 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% (at Montana median) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 8 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 971,179 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 121,397.40 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Cattle, Crop Totals, Grain, Field Crops, Other |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 5,935 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 73,119 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 3,984,524 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 20 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 10 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 53 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 9 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 11 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 8 |
| Local Businesses · Bookstores | 4 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 137 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 141 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 50 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 63 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (20)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | On Your Way 105 105 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 92 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | BILLINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $1,083,163,654 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,575.35 (vs Montana $8,388) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 164,731 people (vs Montana 28,504) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 3 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 78.0% |
| Pct Public Transit | 2.0% |
| Pct Walked | 8.5% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 38.8 years (at Montana median) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 32.3% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 2 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12