How Much Does an RN Make in Idaho in 2026?

A typical RN in Idaho earns about $44.45 per hour, or $92,460 per year, per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, this works out to roughly $7,705 a month and $1,778 a week. Those figures cover full-time work across hospitals, clinics, and other care settings statewide.

That typical pay sits 5% below the national rate of $46.90 an hour, or $97,550 a year, a gap that often tracks Idaho's lower cost of living compared with higher-cost states. Idaho ranks 28th out of 51 states and D.C. for RN pay. Roughly 16,880 RNs work across the state, giving the figures above a broad base to draw from.

Entry-level positions in Idaho typically offer around $34.23 an hour, or about $71,210 a year, for RNs just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the typical rate of $44.45 an hour within the first several years on the job. New graduates often start in general hospital units before moving into higher-paying specialties. Location and the size of the employer also shape where within this range a new RN lands.

Experienced RNs in Idaho often earn upwards of $58.28 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $121,230 a year. That leaves a $50,020 spread between entry-level and top pay in the state. Setting, years on the job, and city all factor into where an individual RN falls within that range. Nurses in specialty units or leadership roles typically sit closer to the top.

Idaho RN pay rose from $60,960 in 2015 to $92,460 in 2025, a decade of steady gains. That is a $31,500 increase, or a 52% rise over ten years. The climb was gradual, with pay rising in each year on record rather than in a single jump. By 2025, typical pay had grown by more than half of where it started.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years, so Idaho's 52% gain outpaced the national pace. Pay has moved up steadily in Idaho, without a single yearly decline on record. That trend does not guarantee future increases, but it shows a profession with a consistent upward path. Someone starting an RN career in Idaho today begins at a higher point than nurses did a decade ago.

Coeur d'Alene pays RNs the most in Idaho, with typical pay of $98,910 a year, about 7% above the state figure. These figures cover the full metro area around each city, not just the city center. Boise City follows closely at $97,880 a year, and Lewiston comes in next at $87,650. Pay in Idaho's larger metro areas tends to cluster within a few thousand dollars of each other.

Pocatello pays the least among Idaho's tracked cities, with typical RN pay of $78,780 a year, leaving a $20,130 spread between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas. Boise City has the largest RN workforce in the state, with 8,550 RNs, even though its pay sits slightly below Coeur d'Alene's. Cities with higher pay generally also carry a higher cost of living, so the gap in take-home value is often smaller than the raw numbers suggest.

Idaho RNs earn less than in neighboring Oregon and Washington, where typical pay reaches $129,010 and $124,200 a year, or 40% and 34% higher, respectively. Nevada also pays more, at $103,670. Montana, Utah, and Wyoming all pay somewhat less than Idaho, each within about 9% below. Nursing licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which makes it possible to compare pay across state lines when considering a move.

Idaho RNs typically earn $92,460 a year, up 52% over the past decade from $60,960 in 2015. Pay varies by city and experience, with Coeur d'Alene and Boise City offering the highest local figures. Anyone pursuing RN licensure in Idaho should check the Idaho Board of Nursing for current requirements, and review city-level pages on this site for local pay details before choosing where to practice.