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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary in Arizona: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors 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
$46,910
Median annual (2025)
+0.1%
Real Purchasing Power
$46,956
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 Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors earning $46,910 in Arizona has the equivalent purchasing power of $46,956 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) $33,480 $33,513 +$33
25th Percentile (P25) $34,860 $34,894 +$34
Median (P50) $46,910 $46,956 +$46
75th Percentile (P75) $60,010 $60,070 +$60
90th Percentile (P90) $73,610 $73,683 +$73
Key Insight

Arizona's cost of living is close to the national average, so $46,910 keeps most of its value at $46,956 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 Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors 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, $46,910 nominal nets out to $46,957 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 Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#37 / 51

Arizona's rank of #37 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (After Cost of Living)

Where does Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$74,086
RPP 101.3
$67,959
RPP 109.8
$66,516
RPP 88.7
$64,799
RPP 92.3
5. Indiana
$64,161
RPP 91.8
$64,042
RPP 97.7
7. Nevada
$63,599
RPP 96.4
8. Utah
$62,761
RPP 94.5
$62,540
RPP 98.0
10. New York
$60,362
RPP 107.6

Arizona ranks #37 out of 51 states for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors take-home pay in Arizona after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Arizona after cost of living?

A Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Arizona earns a median salary of $46,910 per year. After adjusting for Arizona's cost of living (RPP=99.9), the real purchasing power is $46,956 — 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 Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Arizona: $46,910 x (100 / 99.9) = $46,956. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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