What does a Physical Scientists, All Other 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 Physical Scientists, All Other earning $89,860 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $97,886 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) | $36,190 | $39,422 | +$3,232 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $64,730 | $70,511 | +$5,781 |
| Median (P50) | $89,860 | $97,886 | +$8,026 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $124,090 | $135,174 | +$11,084 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $154,770 | $168,594 | +$13,824 |
A Physical Scientists, All Other in Idaho earns $89,860 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $97,886 in an average-cost state. This makes Idaho one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Physical Scientists, All Other salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #33 out of 41 states for Physical Scientists, All Other after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Physical Scientists, All Other in Idaho earns a median salary of $89,860 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $97,886 — 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 Physical Scientists, All Other in Idaho: $89,860 x (100 / 91.8) = $97,886. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Physical Scientists, All Other 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.