What does a Civil Engineer salary really buy you in Idaho?
Idaho is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Idaho's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Civil Engineer earning $94,990 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $103,474 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) | $62,640 | $68,235 | +$5,595 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $76,010 | $82,799 | +$6,789 |
| Median (P50) | $94,990 | $103,474 | +$8,484 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $111,960 | $121,960 | +$10,000 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $133,350 | $145,261 | +$11,911 |
A Civil Engineer in Idaho earns $94,990 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $103,474 in an average-cost state. This makes Idaho one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Civil Engineer salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #19 out of 49 states for Civil Engineer after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Civil Engineer in Idaho earns a median salary of $94,990 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $103,474 — 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 Civil Engineer in Idaho: $94,990 x (100 / 91.8) = $103,474. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Civil Engineer 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.