Montana’s Tech Sector is “Booming” With Billions in Business

Montana’s high-tech industry is surging, growing twice as fast as the state’s overall economy over the last decade.

According to a new report we've been watching for most of the summer, and released yesterday by the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research and the Montana High Tech Business Alliance, the state’s high-tech sector generated $7.9 billion in revenue in 2024.

The industry now accounts for 5 percent of Montana’s gross domestic product. Paychecks are climbing rapidly as well—the average Montana tech worker earned $146,000 in 2025, more than double the state’s overall average wage of $62,000.

The survey also revealed widespread tech adoption, with 87 percent of firms using artificial intelligence daily or occasionally. While tech leaders cite access to growth capital as their single biggest challenge, they continue to point to Montana’s high quality of life as their primary advantage.

MCSO photo

Search ends successfully

A search for a missing hiker in Missoula County ended Monday morning safely after an overdue man in his 60s was located near McCormick Peak.

The hiker failed to return Saturday evening after heading out to summit the peak. Search and Rescue crews, along with Missoula County deputies, drones, search dogs, and Two Bear Air, searched the rugged terrain through Sunday night.

Around 3:00 a.m. Monday, the hiker called for help with his GPS coordinates, allowing deputies to contact him and escort him out. Officials say he was uninjured and required no medical attention.

aerial view of city during daytime

State launches new Missing Persons campaign

The Montana Department of Justice has launched a new statewide public service announcement aimed at raising awareness for missing Indigenous persons.

The 30-second spot highlights four Indigenous Montanans who remain missing and urges the public to review the state’s missing persons database,

Attorney General Austin Knudsen and his staff note that while Native Americans represent 6% of the state's population, they account for 31% of the missing persons cases, 600 in all last year.

      Currently, 35 Indigenous Montanans are missing statewide