What does a Respiratory Therapists salary really buy you in Idaho?
Idaho is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Idaho's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Respiratory Therapists earning $69,400 in Idaho has the equivalent purchasing power of $75,599 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) | $62,180 | $67,734 | +$5,554 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $65,660 | $71,525 | +$5,865 |
| Median (P50) | $69,400 | $75,599 | +$6,199 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $76,480 | $83,311 | +$6,831 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $84,530 | $92,080 | +$7,550 |
A Respiratory Therapists in Idaho earns $69,400 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $75,599 in an average-cost state. This makes Idaho one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Respiratory Therapists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Idaho ranks #32 out of 51 states for Respiratory Therapists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Respiratory Therapists take-home pay in Idaho after taxes →
A Respiratory Therapists in Idaho earns a median salary of $69,400 per year. After adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $75,599 — 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 Respiratory Therapists in Idaho: $69,400 x (100 / 91.8) = $75,599. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Respiratory Therapists 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.