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Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants Salary in Arkansas: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants salary really buy you in Arkansas?

Arkansas is 13.4% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$34,750
Median annual (2025)
+15.5%
Real Purchasing Power
$40,127
COL-adjusted (RPP=86.6)

Arkansas Cost of Living Index

Arkansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 86.6, meaning prices are 13.4% lower the national average. A Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants earning $34,750 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $40,127 in an average-cost US state.

AR: 86.6
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 Arkansas's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $27,760 $32,055 +$4,295
25th Percentile (P25) $30,370 $35,069 +$4,699
Median (P50) $34,750 $40,127 +$5,377
75th Percentile (P75) $37,110 $42,852 +$5,742
90th Percentile (P90) $46,750 $53,983 +$7,233
Key Insight

A Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants in Arkansas earns $34,750 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $40,127 in an average-cost state. This makes Arkansas one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Arkansas Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 86.6

Arkansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 86.6 means a basket of goods and services costs about 13.4% less than the national average. For a Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Sizable COL Effect Reshapes This Salary

+15.5%

Adjusting $34,750 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $40,127 — a 15.5% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Arkansas

#6 / 51

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants, Arkansas places #6 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants (After Cost of Living)

Where does Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Montana
$42,857
RPP 90.3
$41,855
RPP 91.1
$41,420
RPP 88.7
$40,965
RPP 88.0
5. Alaska
$40,774
RPP 102.0
$40,127
RPP 86.6
7. Wyoming
$39,869
RPP 91.9
$39,818
RPP 104.7
$39,599
RPP 92.3
10. Kansas
$39,377
RPP 90.0

Arkansas ranks #6 out of 51 states for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants in Arkansas after cost of living?

A Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants in Arkansas earns a median salary of $34,750 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $40,127 — a +15.5% difference.

Is Arkansas expensive to live in?

Arkansas's cost of living is 13.4% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Arkansas is 86.6 (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 Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants in Arkansas: $34,750 x (100 / 86.6) = $40,127. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants in Arkansas financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants in Arkansas enjoys 15.5% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.

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