What does a Food Science Technicians 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 Food Science Technicians earning $46,400 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $53,579 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) | $39,040 | $45,080 | +$6,040 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $41,800 | $48,267 | +$6,467 |
| Median (P50) | $46,400 | $53,579 | +$7,179 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $53,010 | $61,212 | +$8,202 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $58,520 | $67,575 | +$9,055 |
A Food Science Technicians in Arkansas earns $46,400 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $53,579 in an average-cost state. This makes Arkansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Food Science Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #11 out of 35 states for Food Science Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Food Science Technicians in Arkansas earns a median salary of $46,400 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $53,579 — 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 Food Science Technicians in Arkansas: $46,400 x (100 / 86.6) = $53,579. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Food Science Technicians 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.