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Commercial and Industrial Designers Salary in Arkansas: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Commercial and Industrial Designers 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
$92,540
Median annual (2025)
+15.5%
Real Purchasing Power
$106,859
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 Commercial and Industrial Designers earning $92,540 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $106,859 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) $63,840 $73,718 +$9,878
25th Percentile (P25) $79,770 $92,113 +$12,343
Median (P50) $92,540 $106,859 +$14,319
75th Percentile (P75) $118,340 $136,651 +$18,311
90th Percentile (P90) $141,140 $162,979 +$21,839
Key Insight

A Commercial and Industrial Designers in Arkansas earns $92,540 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $106,859 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 Commercial and Industrial Designers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Sizable COL Effect Reshapes This Salary

+15.5%

Adjusting $92,540 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $106,859 — 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

#4 / 41

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Commercial and Industrial Designers, Arkansas places #4 of 41 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Commercial and Industrial Designers (After Cost of Living)

Where does Commercial and Industrial Designers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Kansas
$116,522
RPP 90.0
$109,379
RPP 93.4
$108,211
RPP 90.6
$106,859
RPP 86.6
$96,599
RPP 104.7
$96,591
RPP 97.7
7. Indiana
$95,904
RPP 91.8
8. Georgia
$95,365
RPP 95.8
$92,979
RPP 109.4
$89,573
RPP 112.5

Arkansas ranks #4 out of 41 states for Commercial and Industrial Designers after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Commercial and Industrial Designers take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Commercial and Industrial Designers in Arkansas after cost of living?

A Commercial and Industrial Designers in Arkansas earns a median salary of $92,540 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $106,859 — 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 Commercial and Industrial Designers in Arkansas: $92,540 x (100 / 86.6) = $106,859. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Commercial and Industrial Designers in Arkansas financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Commercial and Industrial Designers 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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