Jobs & Economy in Gillette
Gillette's real, current 2026 economy is defined by its role as the hub of the Powder River Basin, the nation's largest coal-producing region -- a genuine, real economic identity this record discloses alongside its honest, current headwinds rather than an untroubled boomtown narrative.
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Learn moreThe Real, Current Hub of the Nation's Largest Coal-Producing Region
The Powder River Basin supplies roughly 40% of the nation's coal burned for electricity generation, and Gillette's two dominant mines -- the Black Thunder Mine (operated by Thunder Basin Coal Company LLC, a subsidiary of Core Natural Resources, formerly Arch Resources, the nation's 2nd-largest coal mine with more than 1,000 employees) and the adjoining North Antelope Rochelle Mine (operated by Peabody Energy, the world's largest coal mine) -- together account for nearly two-thirds of all Powder River Basin production.
A Real, Honest, Not-Oversold Coal-Industry Headwind
Powder River Basin coal production was cited down approximately 25% over a recent comparable period, and Wyoming's mining/natural-resources sector employment was cited down approximately 5.7% year-over-year (about 900 jobs) in one dataset this record reviewed, with a separate citation describing an approximately 3.8% mining-workforce decline -- real, current, honestly disclosed headwinds this record does not paper over.
A Real, Still-Developing, Genuinely Modest Diversification Effort
Local and county leaders are real, currently, actively engaged in a still-developing, multi-pronged strategy to diversify Campbell County's economy beyond coal, though Wyoming's tech sector -- one cited diversification target -- remains just approximately 1.8% of total state employment, a real, disclosed, genuinely small foothold this record does not overstate as an accomplished pivot.
Genuinely Low Unemployment and High Median Household Income
Campbell County's unemployment rate ran between approximately 3.4% and 3.9% across the citations reviewed this pass, below the cited 4.1% July 2026 national rate. Median household income was cited at approximately $73,867, approximately 33.5% above the national average.
Real, Current Wages in the Sector Still Anchoring the Local Economy
Average pay for a mine worker in Gillette was cited around $58,946/year as of August 2026, with most workers earning between $44,000 and $67,300 -- real, current wage figures for the industry still anchoring Gillette's economy today.
Key takeaways
- The Powder River Basin supplies roughly 40% of the nation's electricity-generation coal, with Black Thunder and North Antelope Rochelle together accounting for nearly two-thirds of Basin production.
- Wyoming's mining sector employment was cited down approximately 5.7% year-over-year -- a real, current, honestly-disclosed headwind, not an untroubled boomtown narrative.
- Economic-diversification efforts are real but genuinely modest: Wyoming's tech sector remains just approximately 1.8% of total state employment.
- Campbell County's unemployment rate ran below the national rate, and median household income was cited approximately 33.5% above the national average.
- Average mine-worker pay in Gillette was cited around $58,946/year as of August 2026.
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