Though it is known across the country for its potatoes, agriculture is no longer the primary source of revenue or jobs in Idaho. That honor belongs to the industrial and high-tech manufacturing industry. Idaho ranks number one in the nation for manufacturing investment and patents per capita. Micron Technology, the only U.S.-based manufacturer of memory chips, is the largest provider of Boise jobs, and semiconductor manufacturing is an important industry statewide. Hewlett-Packard’s printer division is also headquartered in Boise, which is the capital of ID and its most populous city.

The public sector annually accounts for around 15% of Idaho’s gross state product. For example, the Idaho National Laboratory, a federal nuclear energy research station, has been a leading provider of Idaho Falls jobs. The Gem State’s abundance of natural resources ensures that the forestry, mining and food processing industries hold a prominent place in the Idaho jobs market. But as manufacturing investment continues to grow in the coming years, science and technology will hold the most promise for rewarding Idaho careers.