When public health concerns like immunizations, food safety regulations, and rising obesity rates strike Idaho, state residents turn to local public health professionals for answers. Luckily, Idaho is home to great health agencies like the Idaho Department of Health and Wellness, Idaho Public Health Association, and the Idaho Environmental Health Association, which regularly hire epidemiologists, community service managers, health educators, and other public health workers, who are well compensated for addressing health issues statewide.
In an effort to continue uniting and supporting the public health professionals that develop and implement public health initiatives, the state government has created the Health Matters Employee Wellness Program. This program enhances the effectiveness of public health workers by providing events that promote education and networking opportunities that result in positive community change.
Salary Ranges Advertised by the Idaho Department of Health
The Idaho Department of Health and Wellness is consistently in need of additional staff members to join their growing team of public health workers. As a result, this governmental agency is one of the biggest public health employers in the state.
In 2015, the Idaho Department of Health posted advertisements for the following public health jobs, including respective wage range expectations. Higher-end wages are typically awarded to candidates that hold a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree along with several years of work experience:
- Benefits Program Manager: $26.00-$34.76/hr.
- Therapeutic Recreation Specialist: $18.00-$21.00/hr.
- Child Welfare Social Worker 1: $19.23-$20.84/hr.
- Child Welfare Social Worker 2: $21.71-$21.82/hr.
- Clinical Supervisor: $22.02-$27.00/hr.
- Program Specialist: $18.92-$26.00/hr.
- Developmental Disabilities Technician: $11.36-$13.00/hr.
- Children’s Developmental Specialist: $17.50-$23.70/hr.
- Senior Management Analyst: $21.39-$26.60/hr.
- Health Facility Surveyor: $26.00-$28.00/hr.
- Health Information Specialist: $14.00-$15.00/hr.
- Medical Program Specialist: $18.73-$22.00/hr.
Occupational Wages for Public Health Professionals in Idaho
The improvement of overall public health in Idaho requires a concerted teamwork approach that involves professionals from a wide-range of occupational backgrounds. According to the Idaho Department of Labor, the wage averages for several professions linked to statewide public health promotion in 2014 were as follows:
- Medical and Health Service Managers: $36.22/hr.
- Social and Community Service Managers: $16.94/hr.
- Statisticians: $32.21/hr.
- Health and Safety Engineers: $42.13/hr.
- Microbiologists: $34.13/hr.
- Social Scientists and Related Workers: $31.98/hr.
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists: $31.05/hr.
- Biochemists and Biophysicists: $24.34/hr.
- Community Health Workers: $17.06/hr.
- Health Educators: $25.81/hr.
- Healthcare Social Workers: $23.79/hr.
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors: $19.41/hr.
- Rehabilitation Counselors: $18.20/hr.
- Miscellaneous Community and Social Service Specialists: $17.63/hr.
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists: $28.84/hr.
A Closer Look at Public Health Salaries in Idaho
Shown here for comparative purposes is the United States Department of Labor’s full analysis of salaries for many key occupations affiliated with public health reform in Idaho (2014):
