Customer Support Specialist salary in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area
Hiring a customer support specialist costs less in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area than in Idaho or the country as a whole. The median is $40,290 a year1: 6.7% below the Idaho statewide median of $43,200 and 10.0% below the US median of $44,770. Nationally it ranks #276 of 520 areas. About 810 customer support specialists work here, 4% of the Idaho total.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area against Idaho and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro) | $28,600 | $40,290 | $58,980 | |
| Idaho | $29,990 | $43,200 | $62,190 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
The middle half of customer support specialists in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area earns $35,420–$46,590. The top tenth earns $58,980 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $11,170 wide, against $13,230 across Idaho and $14,910 nationally: employers in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,600 | $2,383 | $13.75 | $36,903 |
| 25th percentile | $35,420 | $2,952 | $17.03 | $45,703 |
| Median | $40,290 | $3,358 | $19.37 | $51,987 |
| 75th percentile | $46,590 | $3,882 | $22.40 | $60,116 |
| 90th percentile | $58,980 | $4,915 | $28.36 | $76,103 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,870 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,300, or about $8,129 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $44,770 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area, and the Idaho statewide median of $43,200 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area
At the $40,290 median, a local hire costs about $51,987 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,697 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,5003 with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month4. Change any number below to match your plan.
A local hire here costs about 3.9 times as much as a remote hire in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two, when the fee drops out, it is 4.8 times the remote figure of $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our assessment platform with a written and a spoken English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff interviews every shortlisted candidate live, in English, before you meet them.
Other roles in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area
Of the 13 roles we track in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between administrative assistants ($42,350) and virtual receptionists ($36,720). Project Coordinator is the highest at $85,590.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +18.5% | 110 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +9.9% | 410 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +5.1% | 820 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 810 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -8.9% | 360 |
Measured against the US median, customer support specialists rank #4 of the 13 roles we track in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area (-10.0%), between bookkeepers (-5.7%) and sales development representatives (-10.3%). The typical role here is at -15.3%, so, measured against the US, customer support specialists cost more in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Customer support specialists hold 14.5% of the jobs in these 13 roles in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area, 23.0% across Idaho and 17.2% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Idaho
Across the 8 areas of Idaho with data for this job, the median runs from $36,360 in the Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetro area to $46,640 in Boise City, a gap of $10,280 a year. Of the 5 areas in Idaho with more customer support specialists than the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area, 3 pay less: Idaho Falls, ID ($40,060), the Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetro area ($36,360) and Pocatello, ID ($37,940).
| Area | Median | vs the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | +15.8% | 9,460 | |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | +8.6% | 1,380 | |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | +1.0% | 570 | |
| Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro) | this area | 810 | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | -0.6% | 1,710 | |
| Twin Falls, ID | -3.6% | 750 | |
| Pocatello, ID | -5.8% | 1,130 |
the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area is #373 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Idaho, Wildwood-The Villages and Pueblo pay just above the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area and Charlottesville and Springfield just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many customer support specialists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo, CO | +0.2% | 690 | pay | |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | +0.1% | 660 | pay | |
| Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro) | this area | 810 | ||
| Charlottesville, VA | -0.1% | 1,130 | pay | |
| Springfield, IL | -0.1% | 1,510 | pay | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | -0.4% | 820 | jobs | |
| Punta Gorda, FL | -4.1% | 820 | jobs | |
| Salisbury, MD | -7.5% | 810 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro)?
About $51,987 a year at the median, or $4,332 a month: $40,290 in pay plus about $11,697 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for customer support specialists in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area?
The median was $40,290 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,600, the 90th $58,980, and the middle half earned $35,420 to $46,590.
Is the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Idaho for customer support specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $40,290 against $43,200 statewide. The next area up in Idaho is Lewiston at $40,700, the next down Idaho Falls at $40,060.
How many customer support specialists work in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 810 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Idaho total of 18,770. 5 areas in Idaho have more; the closest in size is Pocatello, with about 1,130.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than a virtual receptionist in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area?
Yes: $3,570 a year more at the median. The medians are $40,290 and $36,720.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $51,987 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.