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HOURLY WAGE INDEX

Let’s talk wages in Idaho

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$7.25

What is the minimum wage in Idaho?

The current minimum wage in Idaho is $7.25 per hour. This is the same as the federal minimum wage. The Idaho minimum wage for a tipped employee is $3.35 per hour. A training minimum wage of $4.25 per hour can be paid to employees under 20 years old for the first 90 calendar days of employment.

The Idaho minimum wage has not increased since 2009. There have been several proposals to increase the minimum wage, but none of them have been successful.

The Idaho Legislature is currently considering a bill that would increase the minimum wage in Idaho to $10 per hour by 2025. The bill is supported by labor unions and some businesses, but it is opposed by other businesses who say it would hurt their bottom line. It is unclear whether the bill will pass. If it does, it would be the first increase in the minimum wage in Idaho in over a decade.

$26.75

What is the average wage in Idaho?

The average wage in Idaho is $26.75 per hour. However, wages vary widely across different industries and occupations in Idaho. For example, the average hourly wage for workers in food preparation and service is just $12.43 per hour, while the average hourly wage for workers in healthcare support occupations is $16.61 per hour.

$28.98

What is the living wage in Idaho?

The living wage in Idaho is $11.75 per hour, which is higher than the state minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. This means that workers in Idaho need to earn at least $11.75 per hour in order to cover their basic needs, such as food, housing, and transportation.

Wages aren’t everything!

While pay is one of the main factors that hourly employees consider when choosing to join (or stay at) a company, it’s not the end all be all. Research shows that advancement opportunities, supportive management, and schedule flexibility are all incredibly important as well.

Want to learn more about this trend? We dive deep into the data behind which perks and benefits matter most to hourly workers. Check out our full conversation with expert Sara Wasserteil of Cara Collective.

A guide to hourly labor laws in Idaho

Verified by Legal Counsel Brooke Davis

Standard Minimum Wage: $7.25 (Idaho Code § 44-1502) (29 US Code § 206).
Tipped Minimum Wage: $3.35, totaling at least minimum wage after tips (Idaho Code § 44-1502).
Overtime: Hours exceeding 40 in a fixed week are overtime, paid at 1.5 times the regular rate (29 US Code § 207) (DoL).
Meal Breaks: No state or federal law requiring meal breaks. Federal law allows unpaid, non-working, bona-fide meal breaks over 30 minutes; exceptions may apply (29 C.F.R. § 785.19) (DoL).
Rest Breaks: No state or federal law requires rest breaks. Breaks lasting 5–20 minutes must be paid (29 C.F.R. § 785.18).
Wage Deductions: Only make wage deductions required by law or authorized in writing by the employee. Third-party deductions benefitting the employer may not reduce wages below the applicable minimum (29 C.F.R. § 4.168) (29 US Code § 203) (Idaho Code § 45-609).

Final Paychecks: The earlier of the next regularly scheduled payday or within 10 days of termination or resignation. If the employee makes a written request for earlier payment, wages are due within 48 hours of the request (Idaho Code § 45-606).
Wage Payment Frequency: At least once per month on regular paydays (Idaho Code § 45-608).
Paid Sick Leave: No state/federal law. Policies are determined by the employer or through collective bargaining agreements (DoL).
Paid Family and Medical Leave: No Idaho paid leave laws. For eligible employees, the federal FMLA provides up to 12 unpaid weeks per year for a qualifying medical condition (FMLA).
Maximum Daily and Weekly Hours for Children Under 16:
- School session: No working during school hours; three hours per day; 18 hours per week.
- Non-school session: 8 hours per day; 40 hours per week.
- Working Hours: Only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., extended until 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day (29 C.F.R. 570.35) (Idaho Code § 44-1302) (Idaho Code § 44-1502) (Idaho Code § 44-1304).
Maximum Daily and Weekly Hours for Children 16 and 17: Idaho state and federal laws do not restrict 16- and 17-year-olds’ working hours in non-hazardous occupations (DoL).

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between gross wages and net wages?

It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.

What is a good hourly wage?

This question is a difficult one to answer, as a "good hourly wage" is highly subjective according to experience, work responsibilities, cost of living, and other factors. We recommend using Hourly Wage Index data as a starting point. Once you have established a baseline for certain positions, do further research into similar businesses in your area.

Lastly, consider surveying your employees. They're the best resource to help you know what is a good hourly wage, what competitive pay looks like in your location, and how competitive wages change in your industry over time.

Offering competitive pay is one of my top priorities—what other resources do you have that might help?

We know that getting applicants to pay attention to your business can be extremely challenging, and that offering competitive pay is a huge part of that. Wages aren’t everything, however! Applicant experience is another important factor that can help set you apart from your competition. A few examples include:

Short, easy to understand job descriptions
Mobile-friendliness
Quick communication
Streamlined interview stages

Resources

Learn more about hiring and
retaining the hourly workforce

GUIDE

4 secrets to increasing loyalty among today’s deskless workforce

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HIRING HACKS

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GUIDE

Checking the box on hiring and retention

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Resources

Become a hiring and onboarding expert.

GUIDE

Checking the box on hiring and retention

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BLOG

5 Steps to build your convenience store brand

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Social media recruiting: Why your employees should help

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We're here to help!

A Workstream hiring specialist can help you identify high impact ways to improve your applicant experience, and even help you determine what is a good hourly wage for your location and business.

Featured Reads

For our customers: Product roadmap sneak peek

Restaurant

Learn how to tackle the hardest aspects of paying restaurant workers from taxes and tip reporting to labor law compliance.

HOURLY WAGE INDEX

Let’s talk wages in Idaho

What is the minimum wage in Idaho?

What is the average wage in Idaho?

What is the living wage in Idaho?

Wages aren’t everything!

While pay is one of the main factors that hourly employees consider when choosing to join (or stay at) a company, it’s not the end all be all. Research shows that advancement opportunities, supportive management, and schedule flexibility are all incredibly important as well.

Want to learn more about this trend? We dive deep into the data behind which perks and benefits matter most to hourly workers. Check out our full conversation with expert Sara Wasserteil of Cara Collective.

A guide to hourly labor laws in Idaho

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between gross wages and net wages?

What is a good hourly wage?

Offering competitive pay is one of my top priorities—what other resources do you have that might help?

Resources

Learn more about hiring andretaining the hourly workforce

GUIDE

4 secrets to increasing loyalty among today’s deskless workforce

HIRING HACKS

Get actionable tips in this series of quick videos

GUIDE

Checking the box on hiring and retention

Resources

Become a hiring and onboarding expert.

GUIDE

Checking the box on hiring and retention

BLOG

5 Steps to build your convenience store brand

BLOG

Social media recruiting: Why your employees should help

We're here to help!

Learn about wages in your city

Learn more about hiring and
retaining the hourly workforce