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What does a Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians 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 Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians earning $68,310 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $74,411 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) | $55,120 | $60,043 | +$4,923 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $56,880 | $61,960 | +$5,080 |
| Median (P50) | $68,310 | $74,411 | +$6,101 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $77,010 | $83,888 | +$6,878 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $84,220 | $91,742 | +$7,522 |
A Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in Idaho earns $68,310 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $74,411 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 Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Idaho's RPP, the $68,310 median salary translates to $74,412 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians.
Idaho's rank of #23 of 44 states means real purchasing power for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians trails the national half-way line.
Where does Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #23 out of 44 states for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians take-home pay in Idaho after taxes →
A Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in Idaho earns a median salary of $68,310 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $74,411 — 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 Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians in Idaho: $68,310 x (100 / 91.8) = $74,411. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians 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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