Northern Region workers made $26.85/hour, compared to $28.10 statewide
By Reader Staff
Idaho workers are taking home more pay, according to new statistics released Aug. 25 by the Idaho Department of Labor, with a statewide average of $28.10 per hour in 2024 across all occupations.
The numbers come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wages Statistics program, and show an increase of 5.1%, or $1.35 per hour, from 2023. Officials stated that the median wage — the midpoint between lowest and highest earners — also rose from $21.27 per hour in 2023 to $22.34 per hour in 2024, representing an increase of 5% year over year.
Six out of seven metropolitan statistical areas in Idaho had average and median wage increases in 2024, with the Pocatello MSA in eastern Idaho experiencing the largest wage gain, where both average and median hourly pay grew by more than $2 per hour.
Among the state’s labor market regions, southwestern Idaho had the highest average hourly wage for 2024 at $29.40. It also had the highest median wage at $22.88 per hour — with Lewiston right behind at $22.76 per hour.
All labor market regions surpassed $21 per hour in median and average wages in 2024.
According to the BLS’ OEWS database, the Northern Region — which includes Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties — had an average hourly wage of $26.85 and median hourly wage of $21.97 across all occupations, with an annual average wage of $55,860 and median wage of $45,700. The statewide average annual wage was $58,440 and median annual wage was $47,400.
Meanwhile, employment grew across the state in 2024, with Idaho’s reported number of occupied jobs at 844,910 — an increase of more than 22,000 workers, or 2.7%, from the 2023 total of 822,690. Both the Boise and Idaho Falls MSAs exceeded the state’s growth rate at 3.8% and 3.6%, respectively.
Boise, the largest MSA, added 14,090 jobs while Idaho Falls added 2,820 jobs.
Five out of six labor market regions saw employment growth in 2024. The exception was north-central Idaho — the smallest labor market region, including Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce counties — which saw a decline of 0.2%, or 70 jobs, over the year.
The Northern Region had total employment of 99,550 in 2024 — up from 98,060 in 2023, when average annual wages were $53,030 and median annual wages were $42,560.
Go to the OEWS webpage at lmi.idaho.gov/data-tools/oews for complete employment and wage data on the state and its MSAs, nonmetropolitan areas and labor market regions.
