High wage jobs are few and far between in Montana. One recent report placed Montana 49th in the country in average wages. Here are a few ways you can increase your high wage job prospects in Montana.
1. Consider A Job In The Montana High Tech Sector
2. Acquire A Manufacturing or Construction Skill
3. Natural Resources
4. Think About Telecommuting And Remote Work
5. Start A Business
6. Innovate In Agriculture
Over the next few weeks I will be expounding on each of these topics in individual posts. I welcome your input along the way.
Do you have other ideas on how to bring high wage jobs to Montana? Please let me know your thoughts!
August 7, 2015 @ 12:09 pm
Greg – For professional services fields, telecommuting + subcontracting worked well for me… I started my Montana company by subcontracting for a public relations firms in California with which I had pre-existing relationships. It was a better wage for part-time work than most options in my field here, we weren’t competing for business with the firms I subbed for, and I was able to simultaneously grow my business in Montana. This has allowed me to build a job I enjoy that pays well, all well living in the amazing Flathead Valley!
August 8, 2015 @ 5:11 am
“Innovate in Agriculture” I believe I have been as innovative as anyone could be with my life in agriculture. There is however, one undeniable truth about the agricultural economy. That is we are price takers, not price setters. Unlike main street business’ that rise and fall based on where they set their price for goods and services, agriculture is told what price their commodities are worth….. Like it or leave it!
Currently all classes of wheat are below the cost of production and the main driver seems to be the value of the US dollar, which makes our production too expensive compared to our world competition. Until agricultural producers are able to control the price they receive for their commodities, the wild swings between success and bankruptcy will continue.
August 10, 2015 @ 6:40 pm
Hi Greg,
I have lived in Montana since 1999 and for the last 5 years that we lived in Bozeman, I had to work in a technical role (MWD Field Technician) in the oil fields of ND in order to make any real money. There was such a large gap between what I could make in Bozeman and the oil field that we had no choice, especially with the cost of living. I do not have a college degree (only some college), but have done the same work as those that do and at least the oil field gave me a chance to prove myself.
We bought a home in Helena back in January and things ended in the oil field for me in May. Now I work for a well known aircraft manufacturer (for now) in Helena and earn very little. I went from over $150,000 a year to $32,000 and we feel completely robbed. We have since opened our own aerial photography business in hopes we can make it a success and remain in Montana.
I said all of that to say this… We love living in Montana and have fought terribly hard to keep living and spending our money here, but it’s truly too bad that most employers that move their operations here want to pay absolutely nothing to people that have proven they’re a true asset. It’s very insulting and degrading on many levels.
I’m glad I found you on Twitter and came to this website. Oh and on an interesting note… I used to work for Bridger Systems back when you had RightNow Technologies and we were right next door.
Anyways, thanks for listening. May you and your family be blessed by He who is able to keep you in all things.