Jobs that actually got a raise in Idaho

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Idaho run 4.5% below the national average (2024), so a Idaho salary is worth about 1.05× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Idaho.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Idaho

OccupationMedian, Idaho · Real change since 2019

1Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$507,640
Bachelor's degree
$120,740 – $507,910+310.0%+416.3% nominal
2Coaches and Scouts$46,600
Bachelor's degree
$28,240 – $98,020+62.7%+104.8% nominal
3Power Plant Operators$124,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,960 – $137,670+60.1%+101.6% nominal
4Structural Iron and Steel Workers$72,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,780 – $80,140+55.3%+95.6% nominal
5Slaughterers and Meat Packers$40,370
No formal educational credential
$37,720 – $47,680+47.4%+85.6% nominal
6Medical Equipment Repairers$74,270
Associate's degree
$57,910 – $103,330+45.7%+83.4% nominal
7Tapers$57,690
No formal educational credential
$36,930 – $93,130+45.2%+82.8% nominal
8Tour and Travel Guides$37,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,920 – $58,090+44.8%+82.3% nominal
9First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$69,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,190 – $98,350+39.7%+76.0% nominal
10Telemarketers$39,400
No formal educational credential
$26,260 – $41,440+36.3%+71.6% nominal
11First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$92,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,010 – $129,650+35.7%+70.9% nominal
12Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$41,550
No formal educational credential
$34,000 – $60,630+30.9%+64.8% nominal
13Operations Research Analysts$103,600
Bachelor's degree
$60,640 – $138,510+30.4%+64.2% nominal
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$101,390
Bachelor's degree
$53,250 – $203,080+28.8%+62.2% nominal
15Animal Caretakers$32,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,000 – $46,990+28.2%+61.5% nominal
16Interpreters and Translators$66,130
Bachelor's degree
$42,740 – $101,500+27.8%+60.9% nominal
17Food Batchmakers$49,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,980 – $61,230+27.7%+60.8% nominal
18Glaziers$59,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,770 – $78,730+27.4%+60.5% nominal
19Roofers$57,790
No formal educational credential
$35,780 – $71,860+26.7%+59.5% nominal
20Computer and Information Systems Managers$162,240
Bachelor's degree
$92,680 – $219,380+26.3%+59.0% nominal
21Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$64,620
Bachelor's degree
$48,520 – $148,010+26.0%+58.7% nominal
22Cooks, Fast Food$31,070
No formal educational credential
$18,620 – $35,860+25.6%+58.2% nominal
23Crossing Guards and Flaggers$40,060
No formal educational credential
$34,730 – $61,190+25.5%+58.1% nominal
24Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$39,200
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $44,530+25.3%+57.7% nominal
25Waiters and Waitresses$30,050
No formal educational credential
$16,770 – $62,220+24.9%+57.3% nominal
26Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$35,140
No formal educational credential
$23,700 – $45,540+24.8%+57.2% nominal
27Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$29,360
No formal educational credential
$22,880 – $35,120+24.5%+56.8% nominal
28Sales Managers$135,350
Bachelor's degree
$70,730 – $224,890+23.8%+55.9% nominal
29Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,100 – $57,770+23.8%+55.9% nominal
30Amusement and Recreation Attendants$30,530
No formal educational credential
$21,900 – $39,000+23.5%+55.5% nominal
31Financial Managers$127,210
Bachelor's degree
$76,890 – $213,230+23.2%+55.2% nominal
32Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$40,580
No formal educational credential
$24,670 – $52,960+23.0%+54.9% nominal
33Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,920
No formal educational credential
$23,000 – $48,150+22.6%+54.3% nominal
34Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$34,560
No formal educational credential
$27,600 – $43,680+22.3%+54.0% nominal
35Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$33,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,750 – $39,230+21.9%+53.5% nominal
36Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,940
No formal educational credential
$20,130 – $36,330+21.6%+53.1% nominal
37Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$93,710
Bachelor's degree
$51,790 – $152,460+21.4%+52.9% nominal
38Credit Analysts$79,650
Bachelor's degree
$58,770 – $139,990+21.3%+52.8% nominal
39Purchasing Managers$136,970
Bachelor's degree
$79,790 – $207,010+20.9%+52.3% nominal
40Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$34,080
Bachelor's degree
$29,110 – $45,240+20.7%+51.9% nominal
41File Clerks$45,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,600 – $50,460+20.6%+51.9% nominal
42Psychiatric Technicians$41,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,980 – $48,180+20.6%+51.8% nominal
43Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$51,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,400 – $88,730+20.5%+51.8% nominal
44Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$35,560
Some college, no degree
$23,980 – $48,800+20.5%+51.8% nominal
45Surgical Technologists$72,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,430 – $87,210+20.5%+51.7% nominal
46Medical Equipment Preparers$46,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,600 – $60,350+20.4%+51.6% nominal
47Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,380 – $57,920+20.3%+51.5% nominal
48Security Guards$38,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,030 – $78,680+20.2%+51.4% nominal
49Dietitians and Nutritionists$71,610
Bachelor's degree
$47,870 – $87,780+19.5%+50.5% nominal
50Demonstrators and Product Promoters$31,370
No formal educational credential
$30,770 – $49,840+19.3%+50.2% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianIdaho	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$507,640	$120,740 – $507,910	+310.0%+416.3% nominal
2	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$46,600	$28,240 – $98,020	+62.7%+104.8% nominal
3	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,440	$68,960 – $137,670	+60.1%+101.6% nominal
4	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,750	$49,780 – $80,140	+55.3%+95.6% nominal
5	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$40,370	$37,720 – $47,680	+47.4%+85.6% nominal
6	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$74,270	$57,910 – $103,330	+45.7%+83.4% nominal
7	TapersNo formal educational credential	$57,690	$36,930 – $93,130	+45.2%+82.8% nominal
8	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,960	$23,920 – $58,090	+44.8%+82.3% nominal
9	First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,360	$37,190 – $98,350	+39.7%+76.0% nominal
10	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$39,400	$26,260 – $41,440	+36.3%+71.6% nominal
11	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$92,630	$49,010 – $129,650	+35.7%+70.9% nominal
12	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$41,550	$34,000 – $60,630	+30.9%+64.8% nominal
13	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$103,600	$60,640 – $138,510	+30.4%+64.2% nominal
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$101,390	$53,250 – $203,080	+28.8%+62.2% nominal
15	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32,170	$22,000 – $46,990	+28.2%+61.5% nominal
16	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$66,130	$42,740 – $101,500	+27.8%+60.9% nominal
17	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,570	$32,980 – $61,230	+27.7%+60.8% nominal
18	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,850	$37,770 – $78,730	+27.4%+60.5% nominal
19	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$57,790	$35,780 – $71,860	+26.7%+59.5% nominal
20	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$162,240	$92,680 – $219,380	+26.3%+59.0% nominal
21	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$64,620	$48,520 – $148,010	+26.0%+58.7% nominal
22	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$31,070	$18,620 – $35,860	+25.6%+58.2% nominal
23	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$40,060	$34,730 – $61,190	+25.5%+58.1% nominal
24	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$39,200	$31,200 – $44,530	+25.3%+57.7% nominal
25	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$30,050	$16,770 – $62,220	+24.9%+57.3% nominal
26	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,140	$23,700 – $45,540	+24.8%+57.2% nominal
27	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$29,360	$22,880 – $35,120	+24.5%+56.8% nominal
28	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$135,350	$70,730 – $224,890	+23.8%+55.9% nominal
29	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,690	$34,100 – $57,770	+23.8%+55.9% nominal
30	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$30,530	$21,900 – $39,000	+23.5%+55.5% nominal
31	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$127,210	$76,890 – $213,230	+23.2%+55.2% nominal
32	Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural AnimalsNo formal educational credential	$40,580	$24,670 – $52,960	+23.0%+54.9% nominal
33	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,920	$23,000 – $48,150	+22.6%+54.3% nominal
34	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$34,560	$27,600 – $43,680	+22.3%+54.0% nominal
35	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,870	$27,750 – $39,230	+21.9%+53.5% nominal
36	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,940	$20,130 – $36,330	+21.6%+53.1% nominal
37	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$93,710	$51,790 – $152,460	+21.4%+52.9% nominal
38	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$79,650	$58,770 – $139,990	+21.3%+52.8% nominal
39	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$136,970	$79,790 – $207,010	+20.9%+52.3% nominal
40	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$34,080	$29,110 – $45,240	+20.7%+51.9% nominal
41	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,910	$29,600 – $50,460	+20.6%+51.9% nominal
42	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$41,490	$37,980 – $48,180	+20.6%+51.8% nominal
43	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,370	$30,400 – $88,730	+20.5%+51.8% nominal
44	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$35,560	$23,980 – $48,800	+20.5%+51.8% nominal
45	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,550	$48,430 – $87,210	+20.5%+51.7% nominal
46	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,450	$35,600 – $60,350	+20.4%+51.6% nominal
47	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,210	$35,380 – $57,920	+20.3%+51.5% nominal
48	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,300	$32,030 – $78,680	+20.2%+51.4% nominal
49	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$71,610	$47,870 – $87,780	+19.5%+50.5% nominal
50	Demonstrators and Product PromotersNo formal educational credential	$31,370	$30,770 – $49,840	+19.3%+50.2% nominal

More for Idaho

Metro areas in Idaho

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Idaho

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Idaho to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Idaho

More for Idaho

Metro areas in Idaho

By field in Idaho

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state