Long before the arrival of non-natives, the Sauk and Mesquakie economy was quite varied. It was made up of agriculture, hunting, and fishing, as well as lead mining.

Agriculture traditionally provided the bulk of the Sauk and Mesquakie diet. Crops included corn, beans, and squash. Of all the crops corn was the most important. It could be prepared in different ways --- boiled, roasted, or made into soup; its kernels could be pounded into meal or stored away for future use. The women looked after the farming and the fields.

The men were responsible for fishing and hunting. This provided animal protein for the diet, as well as fur and skins for clothing. Each fall, entire villages travelled to the open prairie for a communal buffalo hunt. After a successful hunt, the men would bring the buffalo to the village where the women would prepare and dry the meat. Dried buffalo meat was a staple winter food. The women also tanned the buffalo hides into warm robes and blankets. Soon after the arrival of Europeans, Sauk and Mesquakie men began to trap animals for their skins, which they could exchange for European goods.

The Mesquakie had mined and smelted small quantities of lead for their own use long before the arrival of the Europeans. The French later encouraged them to bring in the raw ore as a trade item. The Mesquakie eventually reached an agreement with Julien Dubuque from Lower Canada. They "leased" to him a lead-mining concession. The area would later take his name.

Today, a sizeable number of Sauk and Mesquakie engage in farming. Many work for tribal and federal government agencies. The Sauk and Mesquakie also own and operate casinos in Kansas and Iowa. These not only provide a substantial number of jobs, but also much-needed cash for social programs. More than 50 per cent of the Sauk and Mesquakie live and work off the reservations.