From the rugged Rockies to the southern plains, Idaho is a great place for nature lovers and anyone looking for elbowroom. Idahoans also enjoy a strong economy and affordable prices. If you’re looking for a safe, family-friendly place to live and work remotely, Idaho is a perfect spot. In this article, you will find a summary of economic opportunities in the state and information about Idaho Remote Work Resources.
About Idaho
Nicknamed the “Gem State,” Idaho is known for beautiful gemstones that can be found there, including the rare star garnet. The state is also famous for its most prolific crop, the Idaho potato. However, there is a lot more to Idaho than gemstones and potatoes. Perhaps most impressive is the rugged beauty of the landscape. A significant portion of the state’s lands has been set aside as protected forest and national and state parks. These set the stage for some of the best skiing, hiking, kayaking, and river rafting opportunities in the country.
“Ahead and to the west was our ranger station—and the mountains of Idaho, poems of geology stretching beyond any boundaries and seemingly even beyond the world.” – Norman Maclean, Author
Five Fast Facts about Working in Idaho
Over 7,000 science, technology, engineering, and math jobs went unfilled in Idaho in 2017, double the number from the year before. These jobs are projected to reach 49,000 by 2024.
Idaho’s unemployment rate remained steady at 2.9% during 2019, rising slightly from the historic low of 2.6% in November of 2018.
The population of Idaho is growing at a strong rate and increased by 14% between 2010 and 2019.
The top four industries in Idaho are manufacturing, healthcare, tourism, and agriculture. Idaho is also the nation’s top producer of potatoes, trout, Austrian winter peas, and lentils.
Housing prices in Idaho are higher than the national average with home values increasing 9.8% in 2019 according to Zillow, and a predicted increase of 5.2% by the end of 2020. The median price of homes listed in Idaho in January 2020 is $334,115 and the median rent price is $1,400.
Idaho Mean Wages
The average (mean) wage in Idaho is $20.90 per hour and $43,480 annually according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is significantly lower than the national averages of $24.98 per hour and $51,960 annually. The median wage is just over $16 an hour. However, this can be partially offset by the affordability of living in Idaho which has a lower consumer price index (CPI) of 97.7.
Wage growth is slow as well with Idaho being outpaced by all its 6 neighboring states. In 2017, the median wage increased only $450, raising the annual median from $32,800 in 2016 to $33,250. This ranks 44th in the nation.
Remote Work Incentives in Idaho
While the state does not offer specific incentives for remote workers or the companies they work for, they do serve as a role model by supporting telecommuting programs for state-employed workers.
Remote-Enabled Companies with Hubs in Idaho
While many companies are based in Boise, the capital city of Idaho, there are also interesting and innovative businesses operating throughout the state. Below is a list of ten companies that call Idaho home and offer telecommuting opportunities for state residents.
Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-Idaho)
Located in the small city of Rexburg, Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-Idaho) is a private university operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Listed on the Virtual Vocations top 100 companies to watch in 2020, Brigham Young is perfectly situated to take advantage of new technologies for the delivery of high-quality distance education to students.
Click Funnels
Outside Boise in Meridian, Idaho, Click Funnels is a developer of a digital marketing software product that enables online companies to draw in new customers by helping individuals and businesses get their message, products and services out to them. This company creates tools that focus on helping smaller businesses grow.
ConvertKit
ConvertKit is a fully remote Idaho company that provides a software-as-a-service (SaaS) email marketing platform specifically for creators. The software integrates easily with many common applications including WordPress and Shopify to enable users to automate and personalize their email marketing campaigns.
CRI Advantage, Inc.
CRI Advantage, Inc., headquartered in the state capital, Boise, is an information technology consulting firm that specializes in providing cloud-based IT support and service management to state and federal government departments. This telecommute-friendly tech company offers benefits and generous paid time off.
Idaho Digital Learning
Idaho Digital Learning in Boise is an online state school that provides a variety of courses designed to allow students flexibility in scheduling and access to dual credit or Advanced Placement courses, the opportunity to graduate early, and recover credits. All courses align to Idaho Core Content Standards and are facilitated by an Idaho Certified, Highly Qualified Teacher.
KickBack Rewards Systems
Located in Twin Falls, KickBack Rewards Systems is a loyalty and rewards program company that helps businesses in a wide range of industries including retail, entertainment, and financial services. Kickback solutions deliver increased sales, better customer relations, competitive advantage, and business intelligence.
Sundance Consulting, Inc.
Headquartered in Pocatello, Sundance Consulting, Inc. is an environmental services company with branch offices in several states. They deliver environmental program management, permitting, compliance consulting, field management, and data management services.
The Admin Center
The Admin Center is a provider of outsourced business solutions located in Boise. They support business owners, entrepreneurs, and executives with a full range of administrative, human resources, accounting, and marketing services.
Health Coach Institute
Based in Boise, the Health Coach Institute is a healthcare educational services company that delivers introductory and advanced training programs to help students launch and build careers as health coaches. The multi-media curriculum teaches students how to guide their clients to change habits and live a healthy lifestyle.
VisitPay
VisitPay is a hospital financial management platform with a patient portal that presents a simplified billing process allowing users to easily see the charges and set up a payment plan.
Idaho Coworking Centers for Remote Work
As the coworking trend spreads worldwide, Idaho is no exception. New spaces are popping up all over to support entrepreneurs and provide a community for remote workers. These businesses usually offer communal and private office spaces, as well as a wide range of programming and amenities, from executive mentorship to 3D printers.
Coworking spaces allow remote workers to choose the exact environment they wish, so shop around to find the best fit for your needs. You can find a variety of décor styles, office amenities, lifestyle perks, and business programs. Prices are usually membership based so you can choose the level of access you want beginning at one day per month at a “hot” or shared desk to 24/7 access to a private office.
You’ll find even more Idaho remote work resources and stats in our infographic below! You may also view the Idaho Remote Work Resources Infographic as a PDF, which will allow you to access the URLs hyperlinked throughout the image as well as the links attached to the Virtual Vocations logo and social media icons.
How Virtual Vocations Can Assist You in Your Idaho Remote Job Search
In addition to access to the Telecommute Jobs Database which publishes hundreds of new and verified telecommute job vacancies every day, Virtual Vocations members receive a variety of exclusive benefits. These include:
Priority alerts for new telecommute job opportunities
Job application history
Save and attach notes to interesting jobs
Upload and store your job application documents for quick applications
Telecommuting Handbook and Interview guide
Exclusive online courses and action plans
If your resume or other job search documents are missing the mark, don’t panic! Visit our Career Services page to get a professional review and a rewrite of your resume, LinkedIn profile, and cover letters. Members receive discounts on all Virtual Vocations remote job search writing services. With a job board full of remote, vetted listings, career and employment services, and access to the telecommute toolkit, a Virtual Vocations membership is just what you need to start your remote career in Idaho.
Are you searching for an Idaho remote job, or are you a current remote worker in Idaho? Share your story when you connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook and Twitter. We’d love to know your thoughts about our Idaho remote work resources!
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