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What does a Chemical Engineers 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 Chemical Engineers earning $106,740 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $116,274 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) | $97,150 | $105,827 | +$8,677 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $97,150 | $105,827 | +$8,677 |
| Median (P50) | $106,740 | $116,274 | +$9,534 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $168,680 | $183,747 | +$15,067 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $174,970 | $190,599 | +$15,629 |
A Chemical Engineers in Idaho earns $106,740 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $116,274 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 Chemical Engineers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Idaho's RPP, the $106,740 median salary translates to $116,275 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Chemical Engineers.
Idaho's rank of #25 of 41 states means real purchasing power for Chemical Engineers trails the national half-way line.
Where does Chemical Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #25 out of 41 states for Chemical Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Chemical Engineers take-home pay in Idaho after taxes →
A Chemical Engineers in Idaho earns a median salary of $106,740 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $116,274 — 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 Chemical Engineers in Idaho: $106,740 x (100 / 91.8) = $116,274. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Chemical Engineers 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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