Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Idaho

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Dentists, General$124,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$91,070 – $203,610-48.1%-34.7% nominal
2Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$49,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,900 – $103,850-43.7%-29.1% nominal
3Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$50,040
Bachelor's degree
$43,740 – $77,260-28.6%-10.1% nominal
4Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$60,510
Bachelor's degree
$50,660 – $77,080-28.5%-9.9% nominal
5Computer Systems Analysts$75,310
Bachelor's degree
$57,250 – $128,140-25.1%-5.6% nominal
6Chemists$78,000
Bachelor's degree
$37,230 – $134,850-24.0%-4.3% nominal
7Logging Equipment Operators$56,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,660 – $77,550-22.0%-1.8% nominal
8Real Estate Sales Agents$39,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,120 – $79,440-21.2%-0.7% nominal
9Skincare Specialists$34,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$21,630 – $55,560-20.9%-0.4% nominal
10Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$64,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,790 – $84,100-20.7%-0.2% nominal
11Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$102,770
Bachelor's degree
$79,900 – $165,590-19.4%+1.5% nominal
12Public Relations Specialists$61,110
Bachelor's degree
$36,580 – $101,890-19.1%+1.9% nominal
13Detectives and Criminal Investigators$72,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,120 – $125,550-18.8%+2.3% nominal
14Sheet Metal Workers$46,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,340 – $78,470-18.1%+3.1% nominal
15Cargo and Freight Agents$45,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,830 – $71,170-18.1%+3.2% nominal
16Mechanical Engineers$93,190
Bachelor's degree
$63,660 – $141,020-17.1%+4.3% nominal
17Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$52,520
Master's degree
$40,940 – $92,770-16.5%+5.2% nominal
18Paralegals and Legal Assistants$49,690
Associate's degree
$36,930 – $75,420-15.8%+6.1% nominal
19Automotive Body and Related Repairers$49,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,610 – $93,040-15.3%+6.7% nominal
20Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$63,680
Bachelor's degree
$43,710 – $103,730-15.1%+7.0% nominal
21Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$52,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,430 – $82,620-14.2%+8.1% nominal
22Logisticians$73,920
Bachelor's degree
$50,120 – $135,220-14.0%+8.3% nominal
23Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,240 – $50,540-13.6%+8.8% nominal
24Industrial Engineers$100,840
Bachelor's degree
$67,100 – $149,390-13.0%+9.6% nominal
25Insurance Underwriters$62,530
Bachelor's degree
$47,680 – $120,890-12.7%+9.9% nominal
26Physical Therapist Assistants$61,020
Associate's degree
$37,780 – $75,050-12.5%+10.2% nominal
27Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists$73,360
Bachelor's degree
$49,840 – $96,100-12.5%+10.2% nominal
28First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$56,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,930 – $84,860-12.4%+10.4% nominal
29Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$47,450
Bachelor's degree
$38,130 – $92,280-12.3%+10.4% nominal
30Real Estate Brokers$57,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,930 – $123,690-12.1%+10.6% nominal
31Butchers and Meat Cutters$38,030
No formal educational credential
$29,570 – $50,370-11.5%+11.5% nominal
32Training and Development Specialists$61,720
Bachelor's degree
$30,720 – $102,600-10.9%+12.2% nominal
33Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$61,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,460 – $91,720-10.7%+12.4% nominal
34Environmental Engineers$117,520
Bachelor's degree
$69,780 – $165,810-10.7%+12.5% nominal
35Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$61,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,840 – $98,260-10.3%+13.0% nominal
36Occupational Therapists$97,760
Master's degree
$69,440 – $152,880-10.3%+13.0% nominal
37Health Education Specialists$61,330
Bachelor's degree
$43,930 – $90,120-10.2%+13.0% nominal
38Engineers, All Other$130,970
Bachelor's degree
$84,030 – $195,360-10.1%+13.2% nominal
39Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$48,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,570 – $77,710-10.0%+13.3% nominal
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,630 – $83,990-10.0%+13.3% nominal
41Industrial Production Managers$107,340
Bachelor's degree
$69,100 – $175,140-9.8%+13.6% nominal
42Biological Scientists, All Other$83,320
Bachelor's degree
$49,940 – $109,300-9.8%+13.6% nominal
43Forest and Conservation Technicians$53,290
Associate's degree
$43,660 – $84,120-9.7%+13.7% nominal
44Bill and Account Collectors$41,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,030 – $58,930-9.7%+13.7% nominal
45Special Education Teachers, Middle School$60,170
Bachelor's degree
$50,190 – $76,200-9.3%+14.3% nominal
46Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$60,930
Bachelor's degree
$46,870 – $79,070-9.2%+14.4% nominal
47Architectural and Engineering Managers$162,970
Bachelor's degree
$103,130 – $219,970-9.2%+14.4% nominal
48Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$50,600
Associate's degree
$39,950 – $139,250-8.7%+15.0% nominal
49Printing Press Operators$38,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,240 – $56,510-8.6%+15.1% nominal
50Instructional Coordinators$63,030
Master's degree
$51,310 – $99,360-8.6%+15.1% 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	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$124,190	$91,070 – $203,610	-48.1%-34.7% nominal
2	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,710	$42,900 – $103,850	-43.7%-29.1% nominal
3	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$50,040	$43,740 – $77,260	-28.6%-10.1% nominal
4	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$60,510	$50,660 – $77,080	-28.5%-9.9% nominal
5	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$75,310	$57,250 – $128,140	-25.1%-5.6% nominal
6	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$78,000	$37,230 – $134,850	-24.0%-4.3% nominal
7	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,490	$42,660 – $77,550	-22.0%-1.8% nominal
8	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,820	$21,120 – $79,440	-21.2%-0.7% nominal
9	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$34,130	$21,630 – $55,560	-20.9%-0.4% nominal
10	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,410	$49,790 – $84,100	-20.7%-0.2% nominal
11	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$102,770	$79,900 – $165,590	-19.4%+1.5% nominal
12	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$61,110	$36,580 – $101,890	-19.1%+1.9% nominal
13	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,520	$53,120 – $125,550	-18.8%+2.3% nominal
14	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,350	$36,340 – $78,470	-18.1%+3.1% nominal
15	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,710	$39,830 – $71,170	-18.1%+3.2% nominal
16	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$93,190	$63,660 – $141,020	-17.1%+4.3% nominal
17	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$52,520	$40,940 – $92,770	-16.5%+5.2% nominal
18	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$49,690	$36,930 – $75,420	-15.8%+6.1% nominal
19	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,200	$36,610 – $93,040	-15.3%+6.7% nominal
20	Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$63,680	$43,710 – $103,730	-15.1%+7.0% nominal
21	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,380	$39,430 – $82,620	-14.2%+8.1% nominal
22	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$73,920	$50,120 – $135,220	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
23	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,580	$36,240 – $50,540	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
24	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,840	$67,100 – $149,390	-13.0%+9.6% nominal
25	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$62,530	$47,680 – $120,890	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
26	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,020	$37,780 – $75,050	-12.5%+10.2% nominal
27	Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsBachelor's degree	$73,360	$49,840 – $96,100	-12.5%+10.2% nominal
28	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,290	$37,930 – $84,860	-12.4%+10.4% nominal
29	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$47,450	$38,130 – $92,280	-12.3%+10.4% nominal
30	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,660	$38,930 – $123,690	-12.1%+10.6% nominal
31	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$38,030	$29,570 – $50,370	-11.5%+11.5% nominal
32	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$61,720	$30,720 – $102,600	-10.9%+12.2% nominal
33	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,730	$45,460 – $91,720	-10.7%+12.4% nominal
34	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$117,520	$69,780 – $165,810	-10.7%+12.5% nominal
35	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,250	$44,840 – $98,260	-10.3%+13.0% nominal
36	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$97,760	$69,440 – $152,880	-10.3%+13.0% nominal
37	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$61,330	$43,930 – $90,120	-10.2%+13.0% nominal
38	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$130,970	$84,030 – $195,360	-10.1%+13.2% nominal
39	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,420	$34,570 – $77,710	-10.0%+13.3% nominal
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,440	$41,630 – $83,990	-10.0%+13.3% nominal
41	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$107,340	$69,100 – $175,140	-9.8%+13.6% nominal
42	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$83,320	$49,940 – $109,300	-9.8%+13.6% nominal
43	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$53,290	$43,660 – $84,120	-9.7%+13.7% nominal
44	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,880	$34,030 – $58,930	-9.7%+13.7% nominal
45	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$60,170	$50,190 – $76,200	-9.3%+14.3% nominal
46	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$60,930	$46,870 – $79,070	-9.2%+14.4% nominal
47	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$162,970	$103,130 – $219,970	-9.2%+14.4% nominal
48	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$50,600	$39,950 – $139,250	-8.7%+15.0% nominal
49	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,650	$30,240 – $56,510	-8.6%+15.1% nominal
50	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$63,030	$51,310 – $99,360	-8.6%+15.1% 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 lost the most to inflation in Idaho

More for Idaho

Metro areas in Idaho

By field in Idaho

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state