What does a Food Servers, Nonrestaurant 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 Food Servers, Nonrestaurant earning $31,200 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $33,986 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) | $23,420 | $25,511 | +$2,091 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $29,660 | $32,309 | +$2,649 |
| Median (P50) | $31,200 | $33,986 | +$2,786 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $34,960 | $38,082 | +$3,122 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $35,800 | $38,997 | +$3,197 |
A Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Idaho earns $31,200 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $33,986 in an average-cost state. This makes Idaho one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #19 out of 50 states for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Idaho earns a median salary of $31,200 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $33,986 — 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 Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Idaho: $31,200 x (100 / 91.8) = $33,986. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Food Servers, Nonrestaurant 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.