By Jeffrey Michael
The Computer Systems Design and Related Services industry is the largest high-tech subsector in Montana and across the United States and has changed significantly in Montana in the past five to 10 years. As recently as 2018, Montana workers in this industry earned salaries about 35% lower than their national counterparts. However, this sector has seen spectacular wage growth in Montana from an annual average of $76,000 in 2018 to a whopping average wage of $176,000 in 2025. As shown in the graph below, Montana salaries in the Computer Systems Design sector have completely closed the wage gap with the U.S., a remarkable feat that is rare across Montana industries.
Where are these jobs? It’s not surprising that Gallatin County continues to lead in 2025 in both the number of Computer Systems Design jobs (1,370) and the average salary ($282,534). Missoula and Flathead counties are next in the computer jobs rankings, and these three counties have historically been the center of Montana’s tech industry. However, in recent years Computer Systems Design jobs have been spreading across the state with job growth much faster in counties outside these traditional hubs.
In fact, as shown in the table below – Computer Systems Design jobs have experienced little growth in Gallatin, Missoula, and Flathead counties even as the average salary of these jobs has grown dramatically. In contrast, parts of Montana that have traditionally had few Computer Systems Design and Related Services jobs have experienced dramatic growth. Yellowstone County added the most jobs since 2025 and now exceeds Flathead County. All the other smaller urban and the rural areas of the state have seen Computer Systems jobs grow by more than 50% since 2020. While Bozeman is certainly still the tech center of Montana, the data shows the sector is expanding into new areas and becoming an important source of high-paying jobs across Montana.
| 2020 | 2025 | Change | % Change | |
| Gallatin | 1,346 | 1,370 | 24 | 2% |
| Missoula | 908 | 808 | -100 | -11% |
| Flathead | 537 | 554 | 17 | 3% |
| Yellowstone | 476 | 644 | 168 | 35% |
| Lewis and Clark | 282 | 449 | 167 | 59% |
| Ravalli | 74 | 125 | 51 | 69% |
| Cascade | 73 | 142 | 69 | 95% |
| Silver Bow | 50 | 84 | 34 | 68% |
| Rest of MT | 740 | 1,114 | 374 | 51% |
