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What does a Civil Engineers salary really buy you in Arkansas?
Arkansas is 13.4% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Arkansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 86.6, meaning prices are 13.4% lower the national average. A Civil Engineers earning $85,020 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $98,175 in an average-cost US state.
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) | $44,810 | $51,743 | +$6,933 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $64,500 | $74,480 | +$9,980 |
| Median (P50) | $85,020 | $98,175 | +$13,155 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $105,090 | $121,351 | +$16,261 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $132,460 | $152,956 | +$20,496 |
A Civil Engineers in Arkansas earns $85,020 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $98,175 in an average-cost state. This makes Arkansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
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 Civil Engineers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $85,020 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $98,176 — 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.
Arkansas's rank of #35 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Civil Engineers trails the national half-way line.
Where does Civil Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #35 out of 51 states for Civil Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Civil Engineers take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →
A Civil Engineers in Arkansas earns a median salary of $85,020 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $98,175 — a +15.5% difference.
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).
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 Civil Engineers in Arkansas: $85,020 x (100 / 86.6) = $98,175. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Civil Engineers 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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