Is Idaho a good state for your salary to go far?

Idaho ranks #42 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 95.9 across 367 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 95.5 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Idaho?

Idaho's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 95.5, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Idaho

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Idaho

Idaho ranks #42 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 95.9, base = 100). Cost of living 95.5 (US = 100); top income tax 5.70%.

Does a salary go further in Idaho? (cost of living + state tax)

In Idaho, the cost of living is 95.5 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 95.9 across 367 occupations, ranking it #42 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Idaho ranks #42 of 51 states. Mean across 367 occupations; 100 = the average state, 95.9 means pay goes -4.1% less far after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

95.9

Real pay by occupation in Idaho (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Pediatricians, General	$297,680	$295,147	137.5
Family Medicine Physicians	$347,160	$344,011	134.7
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians	$100,100	$100,027	133.5
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other	$61,140	$61,552	130.6
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	$125,410	$125,022	128.1
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators	$73,210	$73,472	126.8
Power Plant Operators	$124,440	$124,064	123.0
Food Batchmakers	$49,570	$50,126	121.8
Medical Equipment Repairers	$74,270	$74,519	121.2
Cooks, Short Order	$40,090	$40,764	118.4
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics	$55,320	$55,804	114.1
Rehabilitation Counselors	$54,550	$55,044	113.8
Electrical Engineers	$129,340	$128,903	113.3
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary	$90,890	$90,932	113.2
Environmental Engineers	$117,520	$117,230	112.9
Engineers, All Other	$130,970	$130,513	112.8
Conservation Scientists	$81,330	$81,491	112.5
Social Workers, All Other	$88,610	$88,680	111.9
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$49,780	$50,333	110.8
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other	$52,160	$52,684	110.7
Social and Human Service Assistants	$47,540	$48,121	110.3
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	$46,720	$47,312	110.1
Surgical Technologists	$72,550	$72,820	110.0
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door	$84,390	$84,513	109.8
Parts Salespersons	$44,580	$45,198	109.7
Healthcare Social Workers	$74,500	$74,746	109.7
Labor Relations Specialists	$93,110	$93,124	109.6
File Clerks	$45,910	$46,512	109.4
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals	$40,580	$41,248	109.3
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists	$101,680	$101,587	107.9
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	$63,360	$63,744	107.4
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers	$92,630	$92,650	107.2
Glaziers	$59,850	$60,278	106.8
Roofers	$57,790	$58,244	106.6
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	$99,920	$99,849	106.1
Crossing Guards and Flaggers	$40,060	$40,734	105.8
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers	$35,140	$35,876	105.6
Physicians, All Other	$299,340	$296,786	105.3
Packers and Packagers, Hand	$36,920	$37,634	104.9
Structural Iron and Steel Workers	$72,750	$73,017	104.8

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 367 BLS publishes for Idaho. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (95.5, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Idaho, a $85,000 salary is worth about $83,942 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $4,841 (flat 5.70%) · take-home $80,159 · BEA cost of living 95.5 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $12,010 gain over Idaho.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Idaho real pay — FAQ

Is Idaho a good state for your salary to go far?: Idaho ranks #42 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 95.9 across 367 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 95.5 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Idaho?: Idaho's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 95.5, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Idaho is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.