ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
White (92%). The next largest self-identified race was Native American (4%; Table 1). Most respondents reported their employ- ment as full-time (84%), with 10% reporting part-time status. Further, 3% reported being retired, 2% provided contract services, and 1% indicated they were temporary employees. Over one half (54%) were field sta, close to one third (29%) were supervisors or manag- ers, and 6% were directors or chiefs (Table 2). Workforce Makeup Close to one half of respondents (45%) had the title of sanitarian, while 37% were clas- sified as EH specialists (EHS), 3% were EH technicians, and 1% were laboratory techni- cians or analysts (Table 2). Approximately 13% fell into the “other” category, which included lead sanitarian, teen pregnancy prevention, safety/security officer, emer- gency management, EH director, manager, EH and GIS specialist, deputy EHS director, professor, and administrator. Furthermore, approximately 35% of respondents reported that they held more than one title or position at the same organization. Of the respondents, 40% reported being in their current position <5 years and 7% reported being in their cur- rent position for >30 years. Salary Range and Satisfaction There was a wide range of salary distribution, with 45% of respondents reporting annual salaries between $45,000 and $65,000. Approximately 6% earned <$25,000, while only 1% earned between $95,000 and $100,000. A total of 30% of respondents reported being satisfied with their current salary. A larger proportion (49%) reported that they were not satisfied with their current salary (Table 3). One respondent reported that they would have preferred annual pay increases that matched inflation. Overall, nearly 60% reported that they were not paid enough (Table 3). Education and Licensure Most respondents (52%) had earned a bache- lor’s degree, 30% had earned a master’s degree, and 9% had earned a doctorate degree. Over- all, one third (33%) studied sciences such as biology or chemistry; 21% studied envi- ronmental sciences; and 15% studied public health, community health, and/or health pro- motion (Table 4).
TABLE 1
TABLE 2
Demographics of Environmental Health Professionals in Montana ( N = 100)
Workforce Makeup of Environ- mental Health Professionals in Montana ( n = 91)
Demographic
# (%)
# (%)
Gender
Employee status Full-time
Female
58 (58) 42 (42)
76 (84)
Male
Part-time Seasonal Temporary
9 (10)
Race Native American or Alaska Natives
0
4 (4)
1 (1) 2 (2)
Contract service Prefer not to say
Asian
2 (2)
0
Black or African American Hawaiian Native or other Pacific Islander
0
Other
3 (3)
1 (1)
Position level Field staff
49 (54) 26 (29)
White, not Hispanic
92 (92)
Supervisor or manager
Mixed race
0
Director or chief Prefer not to say
6 (6)
Prefer not to say
1 (1)
0
Other
0
Other
10 (11)
Age (years) <25
Job title
1 (1) 6 (6)
Environmental health specialist Environmental health technician Environmental scientist
34 (37)
25–29 30–39 40–49 50–59 60–65
24 (24) 16 (16) 25 (25) 15 (15) 13 (13)
3 (3)
1 (1)
Epidemiologist
0 0
>65
Inspector
Laboratory technician or analyst
1 (1)
Of the respondents earning post-secondary degrees or certificates, 23% earned degrees from MSU and 7% earned degrees from the University of Montana, Missoula. Of the respondents, 9% were graduates of an EHAC- accredited program (Table 4). Furthermore, 93% of respondents were professionally licensed, with 61% reporting being registered sanitarians and 20% being registered EH spe- cialists (Table 4). Scope of Work Most respondents (86%) worked in public health departments. Only 3% worked in emer- gency preparedness. Within the EH field, the primary activities performed included com- mercial and school food safety (35%), land use/subdivisions (15%), wastewater (14%), and drinking water (6%). Further, <2% dealt with solid and hazardous waste, pools/spas/
Sanitarian
41 (45) 12 (13)
Other
recreational waters, communicable diseases, and body art/tattoos/body piercings. Of the respondents, one quarter (25%) reported that they were assigned to practice in mul- tiple areas, while 94% reported that they were involved in many EH-related activities and areas within the organization (Table 5).
Familiarity With Public Health Concepts
In response to questions about familiarity with various public health concepts, most respondents reported having “a little” in almost all categories. For cross-jurisdictional sharing of public health services, 71% of respondents reported having a little or not
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Volume 86 • Number 2
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