How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN) in Idaho: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median registered nurse salary in Idaho is $92,460 per year - 5% below the national median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); ADN accepted by some employers.
Registered Nurse (RN) Salary in Idaho
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Idaho entry level (10th percentile) | $71,210 |
| Idaho 25th-75th percentile | $80,900 - $102,320 |
| Idaho median | $92,460 |
| Idaho top earners (90th percentile) | $121,230 |
| U.S. median | $97,550 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 16,880.
The Idaho Job Market: Registered Nurse (RN)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Idaho | 16,880 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 19.69 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.91 |
| Mean annual wage in Idaho | $92,710 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.91, Idaho’s demand for registered nurses tracks close to the national average.
Requirements in Idaho
The education path is national - Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); ADN accepted by some employers - while licensing runs through Idaho’s own boards: NCLEX-RN exam + state board of nursing license (required in every state). Verify current requirements with the Idaho licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN).
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,940 |
| 25th | $80,330 |
| 50th (median) | $97,550 |
| 75th | $112,350 |
| 90th | $137,470 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,391,000 |
| 2034 projected | 3,557,100 |
| Percent change | +4.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Idaho?
The median annual wage for registered nurses in Idaho is $92,460 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% below the national median of $97,550.
How do I become a registered nurse in Idaho?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); ADN accepted by some employers - with licensing administered at the state level: NCLEX-RN exam + state board of nursing license (required in every state). See the steps below.
How many registered nurses work in Idaho?
BLS counts about 16,880 registered nurses employed in Idaho (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Registered Nurse (RN) in Nearby States
- Registered Nurse (RN) in Georgia
- Registered Nurse (RN) in Hawaii
- Registered Nurse (RN) in Illinois
- Registered Nurse (RN) in Indiana
Related
- How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN) (national guide)
- All Trade Careers That Require a 4-Year Degree
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), Idaho and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |