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Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary in Arizona: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Special Education Teachers, Preschool 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
$60,130
Median annual (2025)
+0.1%
Real Purchasing Power
$60,190
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 Special Education Teachers, Preschool earning $60,130 in Arizona has the equivalent purchasing power of $60,190 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) $45,920 $45,965 +$45
25th Percentile (P25) $49,190 $49,239 +$49
Median (P50) $60,130 $60,190 +$60
75th Percentile (P75) $65,280 $65,345 +$65
90th Percentile (P90) $80,680 $80,760 +$80
Key Insight

Arizona's cost of living is close to the national average, so $60,130 keeps most of its value at $60,190 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 Special Education Teachers, Preschool 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, $60,130 nominal nets out to $60,190 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 Special Education Teachers, Preschool.

Bottom-Quartile COL-Adjusted Pay

#35 / 45

Arizona ranks #35 of 45 — bottom quartile for Special Education Teachers, Preschool real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.

Best States for Special Education Teachers, Preschool (After Cost of Living)

Where does Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$90,557
RPP 109.4
$86,808
RPP 96.2
$84,613
RPP 108.8
$82,669
RPP 106.4
$81,220
RPP 93.4
$80,961
RPP 105.0
$78,852
RPP 109.8
8. Alaska
$78,813
RPP 102.0
9. Vermont
$78,140
RPP 101.1
10. Minnesota
$77,666
RPP 97.7

Arizona ranks #35 out of 45 states for Special Education Teachers, Preschool after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Special Education Teachers, Preschool take-home pay in Arizona after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Arizona after cost of living?

A Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Arizona earns a median salary of $60,130 per year. After adjusting for Arizona's cost of living (RPP=99.9), the real purchasing power is $60,190 — 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 Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Arizona: $60,130 x (100 / 99.9) = $60,190. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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