Teacher Salary

Mountain Home vs Twin Falls: Elementary School Teacher Salary (2026)

Compare elementary school teacher salaries between Mountain Home, ID and Twin Falls, ID. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Mountain Home, ID
$58,228
$27.99/hr
Twin Falls, ID
$61,487
$29.56/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricMountain Home, IDTwin Falls, ID
Median Salary$58,228$61,487
Hourly Rate$27.99$29.56
Entry Level (P10)$44,241$47,026
25th Percentile$55,919$49,006
75th Percentile$73,244$62,870
Top Earner (P90)$90,254$76,078
Total Employed4490
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Mountain Home ($58,228) and Twin Falls ($61,487) elementary school teacher salaries.Mountain HomeTwin FallsMedian Salary$58,228$61,487Entry Level (P10)$44,241$47,026Top Earner (P90)$90,254$76,078US Median $64,597

Verdict

Twin Falls, ID offers better overall compensation for elementary school teachers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Mountain Home.

The salary gap between Mountain Home and Twin Falls is $3,259 (5.60%). Twin Falls's median is -4.81% compared to the US national median of $64,597.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Mountain Home spans $46,013,Twin Falls spans $29,052. Mountain Home has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Mountain Home
P10 (Entry)$44,241
P25$55,919
Median$58,228
P75$73,244
P90 (Top)$90,254
Twin Falls
P10 (Entry)$47,026
P25$49,006
Median$61,487
P75$62,870
P90 (Top)$76,078

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Twin Falls ($66,755 effective) pays 9.26% more than Mountain Home ($61,100 effective).

Mountain Home
Nominal: $58,228
CoL Index: 95.3
Adjusted: $61,100
Twin Falls
Nominal: $61,487
CoL Index: 92.108
Adjusted: $66,755

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Mountain Home if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($90,254)
  • You prefer the Idaho area and lifestyle

Choose Twin Falls if…

  • Higher median salary ($61,487/year)
  • Larger job market (490 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $66,755)
  • You prefer the Idaho area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, elementary school teacher salaries in Mountain Home grew 16.7% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 39.0% growth in Twin Falls over the same period.

Mountain Home, ID

+16.7%

$49,422 (2024) → $57,663 (2025)

Twin Falls, ID

+39.0%

$43,800 (2019) → $60,890 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays elementary school teachers more: Mountain Home or Twin Falls?

Twin Falls has a higher median elementary school teacher salary at $61,487/year, compared to Mountain Home at $58,228/year — a difference of $3,259 (5.60%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Mountain Home and Twin Falls?

Mountain Home elementary school teachers earn $27.99/hr while Twin Falls hygienists earn $29.56/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Mountain Home to Twin Falls as a elementary school teacher?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Mountain Home and Twin Falls. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Mountain Home = $61,100, Twin Falls = $66,755), job availability (4 vs 490 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level elementary school teachers earn in Mountain Home vs Twin Falls?

Entry-level (10th percentile) elementary school teachers earn $44,241 in Mountain Home and $47,026 in Twin Falls. The Twin Falls area offers higher starting salaries.
JL

Written by Jordan Lee, M.Ed.

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in elementary education. They focus on curriculum development and teaching methodologies. Their experience includes working in public schools.

Clinically reviewed by Maria Gonzalez, MAData verified by David Kim, Ed.D.

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 0.98% 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, M.Ed., a licensed elementary school teacher with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov