What is the minimum wage in Nampa, ID?

In Nampa, Idaho, the official minimum wage in 2025 remains $7.25 per hour, unchanged since 2009, aligning with the federal and Idaho state minimum. For tipped workers, the cash wage is $3.35 per hour, with a $3.90 tip credit, ensuring total earnings reach at least $7.25 hourly. New hires under 20 may earn a $4.25 training wage for their first 90 days. Despite this low legal baseline, market dynamics in Nampa tell a different story.

Local employers, driven by a competitive job market and rising living costs, often pay significantly more. Data suggests many entry-level jobs in Nampa, especially in retail, food service, and warehousing (e.g., Amazon), start at $13 to $15 per hour. This gap reflects economic pressures: Idaho’s living wage is estimated at $11.75 per hour, and Nampa’s median home price of $393,920 underscores affordability challenges. The $7.25 rate, yielding $15,080 annually for full-time work, falls short of basic needs, pushing employers to offer higher wages to attract workers.

Nampa’s proximity to Boise, with its tighter labor market, and growth in sectors like manufacturing (Plexus Corp.) fuel this trend. However, no local ordinance mandates a $13 minimum; it’s a market-driven norm, not universal across all businesses. Smaller employers or rural areas may stick closer to $7.25, creating disparities. Legislative efforts, like Senate Bill 1028 for a $15 minimum, have failed, leaving wages to market forces.

Employers must still comply with overtime (1.5 times regular pay for over 40 hours weekly) and display labor law posters. For workers, this means better-than-minimum pay in many cases, but reliance on employer discretion highlights the need for vigilance on wage trends.