Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary really buy you in Arizona?
Arizona is near the US average cost of livingData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Arizona's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 99.9, meaning prices are 0.1% lower the national average. A Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earning $66,880 in Arizona has the equivalent purchasing power of $66,946 in an average-cost US state.
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) | $48,400 | $48,448 | +$48 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $51,720 | $51,771 | +$51 |
| Median (P50) | $66,880 | $66,946 | +$66 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $82,870 | $82,952 | +$82 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $96,100 | $96,196 | +$96 |
Arizona's cost of living is close to the national average, so $66,880 keeps most of its value at $66,946 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 99.9, Arizona is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Arizona's cost of living, $66,880 nominal nets out to $66,947 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 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists.
Arizona ranks #43 of 47 — bottom quartile for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arizona ranks #43 out of 47 states for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists take-home pay in Arizona after taxes →
A Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in Arizona earns a median salary of $66,880 per year. After adjusting for Arizona's cost of living (RPP=99.9), the real purchasing power is $66,946 — a +0.1% difference.
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).
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.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in Arizona: $66,880 x (100 / 99.9) = $66,946. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.