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What does a Locomotive Engineers salary really buy you in Arkansas?
Arkansas is 13.4% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Arkansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 86.6, meaning prices are 13.4% lower the national average. A Locomotive Engineers earning $78,930 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $91,143 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) | $65,050 | $75,115 | +$10,065 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $66,450 | $76,732 | +$10,282 |
| Median (P50) | $78,930 | $91,143 | +$12,213 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $78,930 | $91,143 | +$12,213 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $78,930 | $91,143 | +$12,213 |
A Locomotive Engineers in Arkansas earns $78,930 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $91,143 in an average-cost state. This makes Arkansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
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 Locomotive Engineers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $78,930 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $91,143 — 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.
Arkansas sits at #13 of 35 states for Locomotive Engineers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Locomotive Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #13 out of 35 states for Locomotive Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Locomotive Engineers take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →
A Locomotive Engineers in Arkansas earns a median salary of $78,930 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $91,143 — 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 Locomotive Engineers in Arkansas: $78,930 x (100 / 86.6) = $91,143. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Locomotive Engineers 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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