What does a Dental Hygienists salary really buy you in Arkansas?
Arkansas is 13.4% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Arkansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 86.6, meaning prices are 13.4% lower the national average. A Dental Hygienists earning $78,500 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $90,646 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) | $50,370 | $58,163 | +$7,793 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $64,970 | $75,023 | +$10,053 |
| Median (P50) | $78,500 | $90,646 | +$12,146 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $84,030 | $97,032 | +$13,002 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $94,330 | $108,926 | +$14,596 |
A Dental Hygienists in Arkansas earns $78,500 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $90,646 in an average-cost state. This makes Arkansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Dental Hygienists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #24 out of 51 states for Dental Hygienists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Dental Hygienists take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →
A Dental Hygienists in Arkansas earns a median salary of $78,500 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $90,646 — 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 Dental Hygienists in Arkansas: $78,500 x (100 / 86.6) = $90,646. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Dental Hygienists 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.