What does a Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators 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 Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators earning $62,810 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $68,420 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) | $47,400 | $51,633 | +$4,233 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $47,400 | $51,633 | +$4,233 |
| Median (P50) | $62,810 | $68,420 | +$5,610 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $74,660 | $81,328 | +$6,668 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $74,660 | $81,328 | +$6,668 |
A Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in Idaho earns $62,810 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $68,420 in an average-cost state. This makes Idaho one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #17 out of 36 states for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in Idaho earns a median salary of $62,810 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $68,420 — 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 Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in Idaho: $62,810 x (100 / 91.8) = $68,420. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators 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.