According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2001, Montana had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $24,044 which ranked 46th in the United States (including the District of Columbia) and was 79% of the national average, $30,413. The 2001 PCPI reflected an increase of 4.7% from 2000 compared to the national change of 2.2%. In 2001, Montana had a total personal income (TPI) of $21,769,095,000 which ranked 46th in the United States and accounted for 0.3% of the national total. The 2001 TPI reflected an increase of 4.9% from 2000 compared to the national change of 3.3%.
Earnings of persons employed in Montana increased from $13,400,525,000 in 2000 to $14,069,660,000 in 2001, an increase of 5.0%. The largest industries in 2001 were services, 27.7% of earnings; state and local government, 14.9%; and retail trade, 11.3%. Of the industries that accounted for at least 5% of earnings in 2001, the slowest growing from 2000 to 2001 was federal civilian government (5.7% of earnings in 2001), which increased 0.6%; the fastest was state and local government, which increased 11.0%.
According to data released by the US Census Bureau, in 2000, the median household income was $32,045 compared to the national average of $42,148. In 2001, the median income for a family of four was $48,078 compared to the national average of $63,278. For the period 1999 to 2001, the average poverty rate was 14.4% which placed it 43rd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia ranked lowest to highest.