Police Officer Salary

Boise City vs Mountain Home: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Boise City, ID and Mountain Home, ID. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Boise City, ID
$87,539
$42.09/hr
Mountain Home, ID
$60,394
$29.03/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBoise City, IDMountain Home, ID
Median Salary$87,539$60,394
Hourly Rate$42.09$29.03
Entry Level (P10)$60,795$37,771
25th Percentile$67,628$50,264
75th Percentile$100,978$76,403
Top Earner (P90)$106,100$87,622
Total Employed9504
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Boise City ($87,539) and Mountain Home ($60,394) police officer salaries.Boise CityMountain HomeMedian Salary$87,539$60,394Entry Level (P10)$60,795$37,771Top Earner (P90)$106,100$87,622US Median $78,542

Verdict

Boise City, ID offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Mountain Home.

The salary gap between Boise City and Mountain Home is $27,145 (44.95%). Boise City's median is +11.46% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Boise City spans $45,305,Mountain Home spans $49,851. Mountain Home has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

Boise City
P10 (Entry)$60,795
P25$67,628
Median$87,539
P75$100,978
P90 (Top)$106,100
Mountain Home
P10 (Entry)$37,771
P25$50,264
Median$60,394
P75$76,403
P90 (Top)$87,622

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Boise City ($88,971 effective) pays 40.39% more than Mountain Home ($63,373 effective).

Boise City
Nominal: $87,539
CoL Index: 98.391
Adjusted: $88,971
Mountain Home
Nominal: $60,394
CoL Index: 95.3
Adjusted: $63,373

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Boise City if…

  • Higher median salary ($87,539/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($106,100)
  • Larger job market (950 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $88,971)
  • You prefer the Idaho area and lifestyle

Choose Mountain Home if…

  • You prefer the Idaho area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Boise City grew 43.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 12.4% growth in Mountain Home over the same period.

Boise City, ID

+43.9%

$59,020 (2019) → $84,940 (2025)

Mountain Home, ID

+12.4%

$52,118 (2024) → $58,601 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Boise City or Mountain Home?

Boise City has a higher median police officer salary at $87,539/year, compared to Mountain Home at $60,394/year — a difference of $27,145 (44.95%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Boise City and Mountain Home?

Boise City police officers earn $42.09/hr while Mountain Home hygienists earn $29.03/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Boise City to Mountain Home as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Boise City and Mountain Home. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Boise City = $88,971, Mountain Home = $63,373), job availability (950 vs 4 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Boise City vs Mountain Home?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $60,795 in Boise City and $37,771 in Mountain Home. The Boise City area offers higher starting salaries.
JL

Written by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in law enforcement. They specialize in community policing strategies. Jordan works with a municipal police department.

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.06% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice, a licensed police officer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov