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Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in Arizona: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary really buy you in Arizona?

Arizona is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$99,910
Median annual (2025)
+0.1%
Real Purchasing Power
$100,010
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 Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary earning $99,910 in Arizona has the equivalent purchasing power of $100,010 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) $60,060 $60,120 +$60
25th Percentile (P25) $79,090 $79,169 +$79
Median (P50) $99,910 $100,010 +$100
75th Percentile (P75) $107,420 $107,527 +$107
90th Percentile (P90) $130,530 $130,660 +$130
Key Insight

Arizona's cost of living is close to the national average, so $99,910 keeps most of its value at $100,010 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Arizona Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 99.9

With an RPP of 99.9, Arizona is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

+0.1%

After adjusting for Arizona's cost of living, $99,910 nominal nets out to $100,010 in real purchasing power — a small 0.1% gain. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Arizona

#10 / 45

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary, Arizona places #10 of 45 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (After Cost of Living)

Where does Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Montana
$120,764
RPP 90.3
$117,138
RPP 109.4
$115,343
RPP 107.6
$114,625
RPP 93.4
$111,013
RPP 112.5
6. Vermont
$106,320
RPP 101.1
$103,732
RPP 91.1
$101,070
RPP 96.2
$100,600
RPP 105.0
10. Arizona
$100,010
RPP 99.9

Arizona ranks #10 out of 45 states for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary take-home pay in Arizona after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Arizona after cost of living?

A Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Arizona earns a median salary of $99,910 per year. After adjusting for Arizona's cost of living (RPP=99.9), the real purchasing power is $100,010 — 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 Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Arizona: $99,910 x (100 / 99.9) = $100,010. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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