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

What does a Surgical 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
$107,500
Median annual (2024)
+0.1%
Real Purchasing Power
$107,607
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 Surgical Assistants earning $107,500 in Arizona has the equivalent purchasing power of $107,607 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) $43,700 $43,743 +$43
25th Percentile (P25) $61,530 $61,591 +$61
Median (P50) $107,500 $107,607 +$107
75th Percentile (P75) $115,610 $115,725 +$115
90th Percentile (P90) $115,610 $115,725 +$115
Key Insight

Arizona's cost of living is close to the national average, so $107,500 keeps most of its value at $107,607 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

Best States for Surgical Assistants (After Cost of Living)

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

1. Nevada
$114,128
RPP 96.4
2. Arizona
$107,607
RPP 99.9
$105,064
RPP 93.6
$102,354
RPP 97.7
$91,398
RPP 89.4
$85,326
RPP 91.8
7. Texas
$78,471
RPP 97.5
$77,605
RPP 92.3
9. Montana
$71,771
RPP 90.3
$69,591
RPP 107.6

Arizona ranks #2 out of 44 states for Surgical Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

A Surgical Assistants in Arizona earns a median salary of $107,500 per year. After adjusting for Arizona's cost of living (RPP=99.9), the real purchasing power is $107,607 — 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 Surgical Assistants in Arizona: $107,500 x (100 / 99.9) = $107,607. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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