Biological Technicians Salary
In Idaho, biological technicians earn $42,130 at the median, or about $20.25 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $44,876 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,136/month, about 39.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $42K actually covers in Idaho, month by month
About biological technicians
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What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for biological technicians in Idaho runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,136/month, which is 39.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for biological technicians.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level biological technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Biological Technicians salary by metro in Idaho
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene | $45K | +6% | 30 |
| Boise City | $40K | -4% | 150 |
| Idaho Falls | $39K | -7% | 40 |
| Twin Falls | $38K | -9% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a biological technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 39.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for biological technicians in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biological technicians typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,497/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is biological technician a high-paying job in Idaho?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $42K here vs. $58K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for biological technicians?
Idaho pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — below the national median.
How much do biological technicians make in Idaho?
The median is $42,130 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,030, and experienced biological technicians can clear $59,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,876/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 39.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a biological technicians salary go in Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median biological technicians salary is worth about $44,876 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biological technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.