What does a Economists 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 Economists earning $72,470 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $83,683 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) | $52,730 | $60,889 | +$8,159 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $57,320 | $66,189 | +$8,869 |
| Median (P50) | $72,470 | $83,683 | +$11,213 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $99,050 | $114,376 | +$15,326 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $109,990 | $127,009 | +$17,019 |
A Economists in Arkansas earns $72,470 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $83,683 in an average-cost state. This makes Arkansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Economists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #30 out of 38 states for Economists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Economists take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →
A Economists in Arkansas earns a median salary of $72,470 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $83,683 — 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 Economists in Arkansas: $72,470 x (100 / 86.6) = $83,683. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Economists 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.