What does a Middle School Teacher 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 Middle School Teacher earning $60,290 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $65,675 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) | $47,630 | $51,884 | +$4,254 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $48,970 | $53,344 | +$4,374 |
| Median (P50) | $60,290 | $65,675 | +$5,385 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $63,180 | $68,823 | +$5,643 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $73,760 | $80,348 | +$6,588 |
A Middle School Teacher in Idaho earns $60,290 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $65,675 in an average-cost state. This makes Idaho one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Middle School Teacher salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #27 out of 50 states for Middle School Teacher after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Middle School Teacher in Idaho earns a median salary of $60,290 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $65,675 — 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 Middle School Teacher in Idaho: $60,290 x (100 / 91.8) = $65,675. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Middle School Teacher 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.