Idaho Median
$135,150
per year
Hourly Rate
$64.98
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-22% vs US median
US median $172,250
State Rank
#32 of 43
state estimate
How much does a Physicist make in Idaho?
Physicists in Idaho take home a median of $135,150 annually — roughly $64.98 an hour — which runs 22% below the national median of $172,250.
Within Idaho, entry-level pay starts around $85,110 while the top 10% make $199,990 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $108,480 and $175,150 a year.
Physicist salary range in Idaho
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,110 | $40.92 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $108,480 | $52.15 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $135,150 | $64.98 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $175,150 | $84.21 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $199,990 | $96.15 |
|
How Idaho compares
Idaho ranks 32nd out of 43 states and territories for Physicist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Physicist salary in other states
Florida $225,390New Hampshire $214,030Pennsylvania $210,990California $207,490Oregon $200,320Oklahoma $200,050Texas $184,040New York $181,970Kentucky $180,910Connecticut $180,300Iowa $178,110Maryland $174,390North Carolina $174,180Wisconsin $173,120Minnesota $171,220Louisiana $166,240New Mexico $165,340Tennessee $165,010New Jersey $163,270Ohio $162,900District of Columbia $157,040Utah $156,760Rhode Island $155,150Nevada $154,030Virginia $145,040Georgia $144,870Missouri $140,460Alabama $139,330South Carolina $138,400Illinois $137,140Arkansas $135,820Washington $134,790Arizona $130,500Mississippi $129,970Hawaii $117,190Massachusetts $106,410Indiana $105,940Colorado $104,580Montana $103,800Michigan $94,520South Dakota $83,050Delaware $82,590
Working as a Physicist in Idaho
Nationally, about 20,000 people work as Physicists in the United States. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
Considering a move? Compare Idaho pay ($135,150) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physicist make in Idaho?
The median Physicist salary in Idaho is $135,150 per year, or about $64.98 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $85,110 at the entry level to $199,990 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Idaho pay compare to the national average?
Idaho pays Physicists about 22% less than the national median of $172,250. Idaho ranks 32nd out of 43 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Idaho a good state for Physicists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $135,150 a year. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Idaho?
The highest-paying occupations in Idaho include Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($507,640), Anesthesiologist ($449,990), General Internal Medicine Physician ($355,390), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Physicist salary report
Related salaries
$122,570
median pay · 22,000 employed
$124,720
median pay · 18,000 employed
$106,030
median pay · 2,000 employed
$193,950
median pay · 1,000 employed
$110,840
median pay · 19,000 employed
$103,410
median pay · 172,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.