Surgical Technologists Salary
The median pay for a surgical technologists in Idaho is $72,550/year ($34.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $77,280 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 23.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $73K actually covers in Idaho, month by month
About surgical technologists
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What this looks like in Idaho
Idaho sits well above the national pay line for surgical technologists, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 24.2% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Idaho offers a genuinely strong financial position for surgical technologists at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level surgical technologists (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Technologists salary by metro in Idaho
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $77K | +6% | 460 |
| Twin Falls | $63K | -13% | 60 |
| Lewiston | $63K | -13% | 30 |
| Pocatello | $60K | -18% | 40 |
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Track surgical technologists salary changes
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 surgical technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 24.2% 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 surgical technologists in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical technologists typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,267/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is surgical technologist a high-paying job in Idaho?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $73K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for surgical technologists?
Idaho pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical technologists make in Idaho?
The median is $72,550 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,430, and experienced surgical technologists can clear $87,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,690/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 24.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a surgical technologists 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 surgical technologists salary is worth about $77,280 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do surgical technologists 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.