What does a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary really buy you in Arkansas?
Arkansas is 13.4% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Arkansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 86.6, meaning prices are 13.4% lower the national average. A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria earning $29,700 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $34,295 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) | $25,930 | $29,942 | +$4,012 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $27,770 | $32,066 | +$4,296 |
| Median (P50) | $29,700 | $34,295 | +$4,595 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $33,370 | $38,533 | +$5,163 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $38,400 | $44,341 | +$5,941 |
A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Arkansas earns $29,700 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $34,295 in an average-cost state. This makes Arkansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #42 out of 50 states for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Arkansas earns a median salary of $29,700 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $34,295 — 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 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Arkansas: $29,700 x (100 / 86.6) = $34,295. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 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.