Physicists Salary
The median pay for a physicists in Idaho is $135,150/year ($64.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $200K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $143,960 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 13.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $135K get you in Idaho?
About physicists
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What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for physicists in Idaho runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $172K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 14.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Idaho can be a reasonable trade-off for physicistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level physicists (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $200K or more, a $115K spread from bottom to top.
Physicists salary by metro in Idaho
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls | $135K | +0% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track physicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 14.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicists in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicists typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,107/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physicist a high-paying job in Idaho?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $135K here vs. $172K 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 physicists?
Idaho pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $172K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $144K — below the national median.
How much do physicists make in Idaho?
The median is $135,150 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,110, and experienced physicists can clear $199,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,029/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 14.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physicists 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 physicists salary is worth about $143,960 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physicists 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.