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Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Salary in Arkansas: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors 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
$42,140
Median annual (2025)
+15.5%
Real Purchasing Power
$48,660
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 Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors earning $42,140 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $48,660 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) $26,710 $30,842 +$4,132
25th Percentile (P25) $29,310 $33,845 +$4,535
Median (P50) $42,140 $48,660 +$6,520
75th Percentile (P75) $51,470 $59,434 +$7,964
90th Percentile (P90) $59,820 $69,076 +$9,256
Key Insight

A Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in Arkansas earns $42,140 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $48,660 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 Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Sizable COL Effect Reshapes This Salary

+15.5%

Adjusting $42,140 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $48,661 — 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.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#19 / 51

Arkansas sits at #19 of 51 states for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (After Cost of Living)

Where does Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Nevada
$60,124
RPP 96.4
$59,067
RPP 109.4
$57,875
RPP 106.4
4. Vermont
$56,676
RPP 101.1
$55,027
RPP 108.8
6. Oregon
$54,887
RPP 106.6
7. Wyoming
$54,678
RPP 91.9
8. Idaho
$54,226
RPP 91.8
$51,612
RPP 91.8
$51,546
RPP 112.5

Arkansas ranks #19 out of 51 states for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in Arkansas after cost of living?

A Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in Arkansas earns a median salary of $42,140 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $48,660 — 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 Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in Arkansas: $42,140 x (100 / 86.6) = $48,660. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in Arkansas financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors 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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