Physician Assistants Salary in Arizona: Cost of Living Adjusted (2024)

What does a Physician Assistants salary really buy you in Arizona?

Arizona is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31

Nominal Salary

$135,240

Median annual (2024)

→ +0.1%

Real Purchasing Power

$135,375

COL-adjusted (RPP=99.9)

Arizona Cost of Living Index

Arizona's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 99.9, meaning prices are 0.1% lower the national average. A Physician Assistants earning $135,240 in Arizona has the equivalent purchasing power of $135,375 in an average-cost US state.

AZ: 99.9

Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Arizona's cost of living.

Percentile	Nominal Salary	COL-Adjusted	Difference
10th Percentile (P10)	$108,750	$108,858	+$108
25th Percentile (P25)	$126,600	$126,726	+$126
Median (P50)	$135,240	$135,375	+$135
75th Percentile (P75)	$159,120	$159,279	+$159
90th Percentile (P90)	$183,470	$183,653	+$183

Key Insight

Arizona's cost of living is close to the national average, so $135,240 keeps most of its value at $135,375 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

Best States for Physician Assistants (After Cost of Living)

Where does Physician Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. New Mexico

$153,835

RPP 91.0

2. Missouri

$152,799

RPP 91.1

3. Iowa

$150,904

RPP 88.4

4. Montana

$147,264

RPP 90.3

5. Oklahoma

$147,240

RPP 88.8

6. Hawaii

$147,129

RPP 110.8

7. South Dakota

$145,602

RPP 88.0

8. Wyoming

$145,081

RPP 91.9

9. Indiana

$144,008

RPP 91.8

10. Wisconsin

$143,900

RPP 92.3

Arizona ranks #30 out of 50 states for Physician Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Physician Assistants in Arizona after cost of living?

A Physician Assistants in Arizona earns a median salary of $135,240 per year. After adjusting for Arizona's cost of living (RPP=99.9), the real purchasing power is $135,375 — a +0.1% difference.

Is Arizona expensive to live in?

Arizona's cost of living is 0.1% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Arizona is 99.9 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Physician Assistants in Arizona: $135,240 x (100 / 99.9) = $135,375. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.