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What does a Animal Caretakers salary really buy you in Idaho?
Idaho is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Idaho's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Animal Caretakers earning $32,170 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $35,043 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Idaho's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $22,000 | $23,965 | +$1,965 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $28,990 | $31,579 | +$2,589 |
| Median (P50) | $32,170 | $35,043 | +$2,873 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $35,850 | $39,052 | +$3,202 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $46,990 | $51,187 | +$4,197 |
A Animal Caretakers in Idaho earns $32,170 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $35,043 in an average-cost state. This makes Idaho one of the best value states for this occupation.
Idaho's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.8 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.2% less than the national average. For a Animal Caretakers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Idaho's RPP, the $32,170 median salary translates to $35,044 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Animal Caretakers.
Idaho sits at #20 of 51 states for Animal Caretakers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Animal Caretakers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #20 out of 51 states for Animal Caretakers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Animal Caretakers take-home pay in Idaho after taxes →
A Animal Caretakers in Idaho earns a median salary of $32,170 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $35,043 — a +8.9% difference.
Idaho's cost of living is 8.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Idaho is 91.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Animal Caretakers in Idaho: $32,170 x (100 / 91.8) = $35,043. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Animal Caretakers in Idaho enjoys 8.9% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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