Average Salaries in Idaho
Explore salaries across 637 occupations in Idaho. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $67.2K, +2.2% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 637 occupations and 844,160 total jobs in Idaho.
How the state compares
Wages in Idaho track close to the national average. Pay for most occupations here is similar to what workers earn nationally.
Idaho has a smaller labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand or a narrower range of employers.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Airline Pilots, Copilots, And Flight Engineers. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Idaho
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in Idaho
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, And Flight Engineers | $507.6K | 330 |
| Anesthesiologists | $450K | N/A |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $355.4K | 130 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $347.2K | 690 |
| Physicians, All Other | $299.3K | 1,700 |
| Pediatricians, General | $297.7K | 60 |
| Dermatologists | $281.9K | 60 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $263.1K | N/A |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $223.6K | 110 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $221.4K | 380 |
Largest occupations in Idaho
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 25,810 | $28.9K |
| General And Operations Managers | 24,880 | $80.4K |
| Office Clerks, General | 20,790 | $44.8K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 20,770 | $34.8K |
| Retail Salespersons | 20,180 | $35.1K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 18,770 | $43.2K |
| Cashiers | 17,200 | $30.4K |
| Registered Nurses | 16,880 | $92.5K |
| Heavy And Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 15,920 | $58.8K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 15,610 | $39.9K |
What Idaho specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Idaho than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Idaho
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Forest And Conservation Technicians | 12.06 | $53.3K |
| Fallers | 11.04 | $78.3K |
| Log Graders And Scalers | 8.26 | $57.6K |
| Agricultural Technicians | 7.81 | $48.9K |
| Food Science Technicians | 7.00 | $49K |
| Farmers, Ranchers, And Other Agricultural Managers | 6.93 | $81K |
| Soil And Plant Scientists | 6.19 | $95.2K |
| Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, And Stucco Masons | 5.59 | $38.8K |
| Occupational Therapy Aides | 5.07 | $32.6K |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | 5.03 | $35.9K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
Metros inside Idaho
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in Idaho
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | $67.4K | 378,520 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $63.8K | 72,750 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $64.6K | 64,900 |
| Twin Falls, ID | $57K | 44,220 |
| Pocatello, ID | $59.3K | 29,180 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $59.3K | 22,910 |
Common salary questions for Idaho
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.