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Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in Arizona: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Social Work 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
$71,690
Median annual (2025)
+0.1%
Real Purchasing Power
$71,761
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 Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary earning $71,690 in Arizona has the equivalent purchasing power of $71,761 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) $60,270 $60,330 +$60
25th Percentile (P25) $62,460 $62,522 +$62
Median (P50) $71,690 $71,761 +$71
75th Percentile (P75) $80,710 $80,790 +$80
90th Percentile (P90) $94,590 $94,684 +$94
Key Insight

Arizona's cost of living is close to the national average, so $71,690 keeps most of its value at $71,761 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 Social Work 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, $71,690 nominal nets out to $71,762 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 Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#30 / 43

Arizona's rank of #30 of 43 states means real purchasing power for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary (After Cost of Living)

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

1. Kansas
$120,677
RPP 90.0
2. Hawaii
$120,342
RPP 110.8
$107,264
RPP 93.6
$102,602
RPP 98.0
$92,485
RPP 105.0
$91,728
RPP 107.6
7. Utah
$86,613
RPP 94.5
8. Texas
$85,579
RPP 97.5
$85,560
RPP 89.2
10. Minnesota
$84,411
RPP 97.7

Arizona ranks #30 out of 43 states for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary in Arizona earns a median salary of $71,690 per year. After adjusting for Arizona's cost of living (RPP=99.9), the real purchasing power is $71,761 — 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 Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary in Arizona: $71,690 x (100 / 99.9) = $71,761. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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