Data Analyst in Twin Falls, ID

The Salary Picture: Where Twin Falls Stands

As a local, I’ve watched the data analyst job market in Twin Falls evolve from a handful of roles to a more robust, specialized field. While it’s not a tech hub like Boise, the opportunities are growing, especially in the healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors that power the Magic Valley. The salary data reflects this—if you’re coming from a major coastal city, you’ll notice the numbers are lower, but so is the cost of living, and that’s the real key.

Here’s the breakdown. The median salary for a Data Analyst in Twin Falls is $80,509/year, which translates to an hourly rate of $38.71. This sits just below the national average of $83,360/year, a gap that’s more than covered by the significantly lower cost of living. The job market is niche but growing, with an estimated 106 data analyst jobs in the metro area. Most encouraging is the 10-year job growth projection of 36%, a figure that outpaces many other regions and signals a strong, long-term demand for data-driven decision-making.

To understand where you fit, here’s a realistic experience-level breakdown. These are estimates based on local hiring trends and conversations with managers at regional employers.

Experience Level	Estimated Annual Salary Range	Typical Responsibilities in Twin Falls
Entry-Level (0-2 years)	$55,000 - $68,000	Basic SQL queries, Excel reporting, supporting business units with data pulls, dashboard maintenance.
Mid-Level (3-5 years)	$70,000 - $90,000	Building complex reports, creating Tableau/Power BI dashboards, data cleaning, working with stakeholders to define metrics.
Senior-Level (5-8 years)	$85,000 - $110,000	Leading analytics projects, mentoring junior analysts, predictive modeling, integrating data from multiple sources (e.g., ERP, EMR).
Expert/Lead (8+ years)	$105,000+	Strategic analytics, managing a small team, data architecture, presenting findings to C-suite at local employers like St. Luke's or Glanbia.

How does Twin Falls compare to other Idaho cities?

• Boise: Salaries are higher (median ~$85k-$90k), but the cost of living is 15-20% higher. The tech scene is more saturated with competition from companies like Micron and HP.
• Idaho Falls: Similar salary range to Twin Falls, but driven more by engineering and nuclear energy (Idaho National Lab). The job market is slightly smaller.
• Coeur d'Alene: Salaries can be higher due to tourism and a growing tech corridor, but housing costs have skyrocketed, often exceeding Twin Falls by 40-50%.

Twin Falls offers a sweet spot: a median salary of $80,509 that goes much further than in the state's larger metros, with a growing, less saturated job market.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let’s get down to brass tacks. What does a $80,509/year salary actually mean for your monthly budget in Twin Falls? We’ll use the local average for a 1BR rent of $806/month and Idaho’s state income tax (which ranges from 1.125% to 6.925% for that income level).

Monthly Budget Breakdown for a Data Analyst Earning $80,509:

• Gross Monthly Income: $6,709
• Estimated Deductions (Federal, State, FICA): ~$1,725
• Net Monthly Income (Take-Home): ~$4,984
• Rent (1BR Average): -$806
• Utilities (Electric, Gas, Internet, Water): ~-$150
• Groceries: ~-$400
• Transportation (Car Payment, Gas, Insurance): ~-$450
• Health Insurance (Employer-Sponsored): ~-$250
• Miscellaneous & Savings: ~-$2,928

As you can see, the discretionary income is significant. The Cost of Living Index of 88.6 (US avg = 100) is a major factor here. Your dollar stretches further in Twin Falls than in 88% of the U.S. This surplus allows for aggressive savings, paying down debt, or saving for a down payment.

Can they afford to buy a home? Yes, absolutely. With a take-home pay of nearly $5,000 per month and an average mortgage payment (including taxes and insurance) for a starter home in the area being around $1,400 - $1,800/month, you’re well within the recommended 28-30% of gross income on housing. The median home price in Twin Falls County is around $325,000. With a strong credit score, a 20% down payment ($65,000) is achievable with the surplus income you’ll have living here.

Where the Jobs Are: Twin Falls's Major Employers

The job market for data analysts here is anchored by a mix of healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and public sector roles. You won't find FAANG companies, but you will find stable employers with complex data needs.

1. St. Luke's Health System: The largest employer in the region. They have a massive need for analysts in their Revenue Cycle, Population Health, and Clinical Operations departments. You’d be working with EMR (Epic) data, patient outcomes, and financial metrics. Hiring is steady, often for mid-level and senior roles.
2. Glanbia Nutritionals: A global leader in nutritional ingredients. Their Twin Falls plant is a massive operation requiring analysts for supply chain optimization, quality control (QC) data, and production efficiency. This is a great intersection of agriculture and manufacturing data.
3. Chobani: The yogurt giant’s second-largest manufacturing facility is here. They need analysts for production line efficiency, waste reduction, and logistics. It’s a fast-paced environment with a focus on operational data.
4. Twin Falls School District (TFSD): The public sector offers stable, pension-eligible roles. Analysts here often work with student performance data, budgeting, and grant reporting. It’s a great entry point if you have an interest in education.
5. City of Twin Falls: Similar to TFSD, the city needs analysts for utility management (water, electric), public works, and planning. They work with geographic information systems (GIS) data frequently.
6. Idaho Fish and Game (Magic Valley Region): A niche but fascinating opportunity. Analysts here work with wildlife population data, habitat studies, and hunter/angler statistics. It’s a unique blend of biology and data science.
7. Rural Health Providers (e.g., St. Luke’s Clinics, Valley View Hospital): Smaller clinics need analysts to manage patient flow, billing, and basic reporting. These can be great entry-level roles or side gigs.

Hiring Trends: Most local companies don’t have massive, dedicated data teams. You’ll often be the sole analyst or part of a very small team. This means wearing many hats—from data extraction to presenting to executives. Because of this, proficiency in tools like SQL, Excel, Tableau/Power BI, and a basic understanding of statistics is non-negotiable. Python/R is a plus but not always required for mid-level roles.

Getting Licensed in ID

Idaho has no state-specific licensing requirements for Data Analysts. This is a huge advantage, lowering the barrier to entry. Your "license" is your portfolio of work and your technical skills.

What You Do Need:

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Business, or a related field is standard. Some employers may accept equivalent experience, especially for entry-level roles.
• Certifications (Optional but Recommended): While not mandatory, these can boost your resume:
  • Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate: A solid entry-level credential.
  • Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate (Power BI): Extremely valuable, as many local employers use the Microsoft ecosystem.
  • Tableau Desktop Specialist: Another key tool in the local market.
• Cost: Certification exams typically cost between $100 - $200. Study materials can be free (YouTube, Microsoft Learn) or paid (Coursera, Udemy).

Timeline to Get Started:

• If you have a relevant degree and 1-2 years of experience: You can start applying immediately. Tailor your resume for local industries (healthcare, agriculture).
• If you're changing careers: Plan for 3-6 months of upskilling. Complete a certification (like Google's) and build 2-3 portfolio projects using public datasets relevant to Twin Falls (e.g., analyzing agricultural yield data or local health trends). Network on LinkedIn with local analysts at St. Luke's or Glanbia.

Best Neighborhoods for Data Analysts

Where you live in Twin Falls will affect your commute, lifestyle, and budget. The city is spread out, so proximity to major employers is key.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Commute	Rent Estimate (1BR)	Why It's Good for Data Analysts
Northside/Central	Established, walkable to downtown, mix of old homes and apartments. 5-10 min commute to St. Luke's & downtown employers.	$850 - $950	Central location. Easy access to coffee shops (like Yellow Ox) for remote work. Close to the farmers' market.
South Hills	Newer, master-planned community. Quiet, family-oriented, more car-dependent. 10-15 min commute to most employers.	$800 - $900	Modern apartments and townhomes. Great for those who want a quiet home office setup. Close to the Canyon Rim Trail for walking breaks.
Eastside	Older, more affordable, diverse community. 10-15 min commute.	$700 - $850	Best value for rent. Close to Fred Meyer, Walmart, and easy highway access. Good for budget-conscious analysts.
Near CSI (College of Southern Idaho)	Student-heavy, very affordable. 15-20 min commute to downtown.	$650 - $800	If you're a recent grad or want to be close to campus resources. Very low rent frees up cash for savings.
Westside (Rupert/Heyburn)	Suburban/rural feel. Longer commute (20-25 mins) but larger homes for the price.	$700 - $850	For those who prioritize space over commute time. You can get a 2BR for the price of a 1BR in central Twin Falls.

Insider Tip: Most local employers offer hybrid work options (2-3 days in office). This makes neighborhoods slightly farther out more viable. Test the commute at different times of day—Twin Falls doesn’t have bad traffic, but the distance between employers can be deceptive.

The Long Game: Career Growth

Your career in Twin Falls won’t be linear; it will be deep. You’ll become the go-to person for your employer’s data, which can lead to niche expertise and significant value.

Specialty Premiums & Advancement Paths:

• Healthcare Analytics (St. Luke’s): Expertise in Epic data or HL7/FHIR standards can command a 10-15% salary premium. Path: Analyst -> Sr. Analyst -> Manager of Analytics.
• Supply Chain & Manufacturing (Glanbia, Chobani): Knowledge of ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) and process mining tools is highly sought after. Path: Analyst -> Operations Analyst -> Supply Chain Data Lead.
• Public Sector (City/County): Advancement is tied to seniority and certifications (like GISP for GIS). Stability is the premium here, with excellent benefits and pensions.
• Generalist to Specialist: Many start as general data analysts and specialize in areas like data engineering (learning ETL pipelines) or data visualization (becoming a Tableau/Power BI guru). This can open doors to remote roles with higher pay from Boise or national companies.

10-Year Outlook (36% Growth):
This growth will be driven by Twin Falls’ expanding industries. As agriculture becomes more tech-driven (precision ag), healthcare continues to consolidate, and manufacturing seeks efficiency, the demand for analysts will soar. You can expect to see more dedicated data teams forming at mid-sized employers. The key is to stay adaptable—master the core tools, but also learn the unique data language of your chosen industry.

The Verdict: Is Twin Falls Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Low Cost of Living: A median salary of $80,509 affords a very comfortable lifestyle with high savings potential.	Smaller Job Market: Fewer options than Boise or national hubs. A layoff could mean a longer job search.
Strong Job Growth (36%): Indicates a healthy, expanding market for your skills.	Limited Networking: Fewer tech meetups or conferences. You must be proactive on LinkedIn.
High Quality of Life: Easy commutes, access to outdoor recreation (Shoshone Falls, Snake River), safe communities.	Salaries Below National Average: The $80,509 median is $2,851 less than the national average. Long-term earning potential may be capped.
Stable, Growing Employers: Healthcare, agriculture, and public sector jobs are recession-resistant.	Limited Cultural Scene: Smaller arts, music, and food scene compared to larger cities.
No State-Specific Licensing: Easy entry for out-of-state applicants.	Car Dependency: Public transit is minimal. You need a reliable vehicle.

Final Recommendation:
Twin Falls is an excellent choice for Data Analysts who prioritize quality of life, affordability, and stable employment over the highest possible salary. It’s ideal for:

• Early-career analysts wanting to build a broad skill set without high living costs.
• Mid-career professionals seeking a slower pace and the ability to buy a home.
• Analysts interested in applying their skills to tangible, local industries (healthcare, agriculture).

If you’re driven purely by maximizing income and work in a cutting-edge tech field, you may find the ceiling here limiting. But for a balanced, rewarding career where your skills have a direct impact on your community, Twin Falls is a hidden gem.

FAQs

Q: Do I need to know Python or R to get a job here?
A: Not always. For many mid-level roles at local employers, strong SQL, Excel, and BI tool (Tableau/Power BI) skills are sufficient. Python/R is a major advantage for senior or specialized roles, especially in predictive modeling at larger employers like St. Luke's or Glanbia.

Q: How difficult is it to break into the market as a newcomer?
A: It’s manageable but requires effort. The market is small, so networking is key. Reach out to analysts at local companies on LinkedIn. Tailor your applications to highlight relevant industry experience (e.g., healthcare if applying to St. Luke's). Having a local address or indicating you're moving can help.

Q: What's the remote work situation in Twin Falls?
A: Hybrid is the most common model. Many local employers offer 2-3 days in the office and the rest remote. Fully remote roles with national companies are also possible, giving you the $80,509 local median while accessing a higher national salary. This is a growing trend.

Q: Is the $80,509 median salary enough to live comfortably alone?
A: Absolutely. With the low $806/month rent and Cost of Living Index of 88.6, a single person can live very comfortably, save significantly, and still afford entertainment and travel. It's a very livable wage for the area.

Q: What's the best way to find a job?
A: 1) IdahoWorks (state job board), 2) LinkedIn (search "Data Analyst" + "Twin Falls"), 3) Direct company career pages (St. Luke's, Glanbia, Chobani), 4) Networking with local professionals. The job market here is relationship-driven.