What does a Fire Inspectors and Investigators 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 Fire Inspectors and Investigators earning $70,160 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $76,427 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) | $52,830 | $57,549 | +$4,719 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $61,040 | $66,492 | +$5,452 |
| Median (P50) | $70,160 | $76,427 | +$6,267 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $82,010 | $89,335 | +$7,325 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $101,040 | $110,065 | +$9,025 |
A Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Idaho earns $70,160 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $76,427 in an average-cost state. This makes Idaho one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #18 out of 45 states for Fire Inspectors and Investigators after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Idaho earns a median salary of $70,160 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $76,427 — 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 Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Idaho: $70,160 x (100 / 91.8) = $76,427. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Fire Inspectors and Investigators 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.