Montana Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Montana account for 6.34% of the total output in the state, employing 4.15% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $3.35 billion in 2019. In addition, there were an average of 20,000 manufacturing employees in Montana in 2020, with an average annual compensation of $56,347.59 in 2019.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2019)
$3.35
(Percent share of total gross state product)
6.34%
Manufacturing Firms in Montana (2017)
1,291

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2020)
20,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
4.15%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2019)
$56,347.59
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2019)
$38,101.33

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau

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Montana Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive Montana’s economy, with $0.86 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2020. That same year, $0.41 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 23.50% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 84.00% percent of all exporters in Montana.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2020)
$0.86
(Percent share of total goods exports)
59.88%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
5,838
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
23.50%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
84.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2020)
$0.41
(Percent of total exports, 2020)
47.67%
Canada
29.43%
China
9.92%
South Korea
6.21%
Belgium
5.67%
Japan
5.54%

Sources: International Trade Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

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Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased 48.3% ($659.49 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2019 – even though these countries represent only six percent of the world’s population and 10 percent of GDP.
  • FTA countries: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, Singapore and South Korea.