Idaho is for registered nurses (RNs) who want to combine career opportunities with a lifestyle they love. While the RN salary in Idaho isn't among the nation's highest, the Gem State offers strong employment prospects, a wide range of practice settings, and access to some of the country's best outdoor recreation, including skiing, fishing, and hiking. Plus, a growing population, an aging workforce, and ongoing healthcare staffing shortages make your skills highly valuable here, giving you more options when choosing employers and career paths.
How much can you expect to earn as an RN in Idaho? We analyzed recent nursing job postings to give you a clearer picture of salary ranges and expectations, so you can better understand what your skills and experience may be worth in today’s job market.
What’s the Average RN Salary in Idaho?
According to current data from our job board, the average salary for RNs in Idaho is $97,985 annually, or $47.11 per hour. However, pay for RNs varies widely. You may earn more or less depending on the facility type, facility location (such as whether it's urban or rural), clinical specialty, and other factors.
How these numbers are determined: Our wage estimates for the RN salary in Idaho are based on two inputs: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data and Credenza's own job postings feed, which features current job ads for nurses in the area. Estimates are updated monthly. Learn more about our methodology.
Average RN Salaries by City
Wondering what you might earn in one of Idaho's metro areas? We gathered data from our job board to give you a look. Check out the current RN jobs on Credenza to learn more about your local job market and spot the best-matched opportunities for you.
Your salary. Your city.
What Do RNs Make in Idaho?
Median pay for RNs in Idaho's top-paying areas, from Credenza's salary model. Updated monthly.
- Coeur d'Alene Annual salary: $103,022 Hourly salary: $49.53 / hr See jobs
- Boise City Annual salary: $102,086 Hourly salary: $49.08 / hr See jobs
- Boise Annual salary: $92,165 Hourly salary: $44.31 / hr See jobs
- Lewiston Annual salary: $91,354 Hourly salary: $43.92 / hr See jobs
- Moscow Annual salary: $91,291 Hourly salary: $43.89 / hr See jobs
Our own salary estimates · Updated monthly · Free to access
Annual figures are annualized equivalents (40 hrs/week × 52 weeks) of median hourly
pay.
RN Salary in Idaho vs. Other States
Salary numbers make more sense when you have something to measure them against. Idaho's salary average is closely aligned with the national average, but you may need more targeted information to make your next career move. Consider comparing Idaho's average RN salaries with those in nearby states.
- Average RN salary in Washington
- Average RN salary in Oregon
- Average RN salary in Nevada
- Average RN salary in Utah
Benefits of Being an Idaho RN
Idaho is home to just over 2 million residents, but the state welcomes around 37 million visitors each year. The well-being of residents and tourists depends on a strong healthcare workforce, creating opportunities for healthcare professionals across a variety of settings — from acute care hospitals to post-acute facilities and preventive care services.
Here are some of the benefits of working as an RN in Idaho:
- Growing healthcare system. The healthcare sector is the state’s strongest employment sector, featuring several large health systems. Organizations like St. Luke's Health System and Saint Alphonsus Health System provide nurses with opportunities to work alongside experienced teams, explore different specialties, and advance their careers over time.
- Career flexibility. Idaho’s participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) can be a major advantage for nurses who value mobility. A multistate license allows eligible RNs to work in over 40 compact states, making it easier to accept travel assignments or explore opportunities beyond Idaho.
- Loan repayment opportunities. Idaho offers programs that help healthcare professionals reduce student debt. Through programs like the Idaho State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), eligible nurses and other healthcare workers may receive financial assistance in exchange for working in areas with limited access to care.
- Quality educational institutions. Idaho is home to several respected nursing schools, including Boise State University and Idaho State University. Whether you’re pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a higher degree, you’ll find quality programs that help you level up your knowledge and skills, so you can step into specialized roles, leadership positions, or advanced practice opportunities.
- Work-life balance. Idaho is a great fit for nurses who enjoy an active lifestyle. You can spend your time off hiking in the Sawtooth Mountains, skiing at Sun Valley, fishing in Lake Coeur d’Alene, or even visiting the world-renowned Yellowstone National Park.
Healthcare Facilities in Idaho
Idaho is home to over 50 hospitals, including two Magnet-designated facilities. Beyond major hospitals, RNs can also find opportunities in home care agencies, urgent care centers, specialized clinics, and private medical offices across the state.
Ready to take the next step in your nursing career? Explore available positions below:
- Bingham Healthcare
- Gritman Medical Center
- Idaho Falls Community Hospital
- Mountain View Hospital
- North Canyon Network of Care
- Portneuf Medical Center
- Scion Health - St. Joseph Regional Medical Center
Professional Support for RNs in Idaho
Planning your next career move in Idaho? The Idaho Board of Nursing can help you stay informed about licensing requirements, renewal deadlines, and professional practice standards. You can also explore our guides on how to become an RN in Idaho and how to renew your nursing license.
Looking for more details? See the resources below:
- American Nursing Association Idaho
- Idaho Center for Nursing
- Idaho Health Care Association
- Idaho Nurse Practice Act
- Idaho Nursing Action Coalition
How to Increase Your Salary in Idaho
If you're looking to grow your income, you don't necessarily need to wait for your next annual raise. Strategic career moves — such as earning certifications, pursuing higher education, or moving into specialized roles — can help increase your earning potential.
Want to earn the highest RN salary in Idaho? Consider these strategies to help grow your income:
- Earn a specialty certification. Many employers pay higher salaries for nurses with proven expertise in a specific specialty. Earning a professional certification is one way to demonstrate that expertise. Credentials such as Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA), Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), and Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) can strengthen your nursing resume and help you qualify for higher-paying nursing jobs.
- Advance your education. Pursuing a BSN or higher degree can open the door to leadership opportunities, like nurse manager, clinical educator, or advanced practice roles that often come with a substantial salary increase. You can also add a minor to your nursing degree, such as criminal justice, public health, and business administration can also expand your career opportunities.
- Take advantage of a multistate license. An Idaho compact license can expand your career options beyond state lines. This makes it easier to take advantage of remote jobs, travel assignments, strike nursing contracts, and other high-paying opportunities.
- Start your own business. Idaho's growing population and demand for healthcare create opportunities for nurse entrepreneurs. Consider offering services such as health coaching, NCLEX tutoring, medical writing, or private duty care to meet the needs of local communities.
- Work in a rural area. Rural communities across Idaho often struggle to attract enough healthcare professionals, which can create valuable opportunities for nurses. To bring in qualified RNs, some employers offer incentives like sign-on bonuses, relocation assistance, loan repayment programs, or higher hourly pay.
Create your nursing profile to get matched with the jobs you want
Ready to simplify your job search? Build your customized nursing profile once and use it to find the best-matched jobs whenever you're looking for them.
Why Trust Us?
How much you make as a registered nurse is important. That’s why it’s crucial to get numbers reporting the RN salary in Idaho and other regions right. We have the data and the experience to do just that. Here’s why you can rely on us.
Methodology: How We Get the Data
Data Sources. Wage estimates combine two inputs. The first is the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, which is the federal benchmark for what healthcare workers actually earn. It's the most reliable measure available, but it's published annually, lags the market, and doesn't report on thousands of smaller market-and-discipline combinations. The second is Credenza's own job postings feed, a daily export of active listings from verified healthcare employers. Postings are current and granular, but they advertise pay rather than report it, as advertised rates typically run a few percentage points off actual earnings, by an amount that varies market to market.
How Estimates Are Calculated. Rather than averaging listings, our model treats each market's wage as an unknown value that both sources give partial evidence about. It learns the gap between advertised and earned pay for each market, anchors markets with sparse data to their state's wage level, and carries estimates forward year over year at a rate learned from historical data. Every figure is published with an interval reflecting how much evidence stands behind it.
Data Cleaning. We exclude extreme outlier salary ranges, which are often artifacts of data collection. These are rare, but in thin markets a single outlier listing can shift an average by whole percentage points.
Coverage and Limitations. Our estimates cover roughly 1,600 market-and-discipline combinations the federal survey never reports on, including rural areas and smaller metros. All figures are statistical estimates rather than measured wages, and shifts in which employers are posting can affect the advertised-versus-earned correction. These figures describe market conditions and aren't a substitute for a formal compensation study.
Who We Are
All our Career Advice articles, including the Nursing Salary pages, were prepared by the humans on the Credenza content team. Our team comprises subject matter experts — registered nurse writers — and an editorial staff who uphold a rigorous review process to ensure that our articles are both accurate and relevant to modern nurses. Our articles provide actionable steps to help you maximize your career potential, whether you’re seeking new employment opportunities or just looking for ways to gain greater job satisfaction.
About Credenza
Credenza is the clinician career destination, the single place to manage your career, unlock every opportunity, and ensure you’re always ready for what’s next. The clinical job market is moving fast. On Credenza, your profile unlocks every relevant match, specialty, and setting all in one place. Credenza — one profile, one platform, every opportunity.