What does a Materials Engineers 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 Materials Engineers earning $100,330 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $115,854 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) | $73,800 | $85,219 | +$11,419 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $93,090 | $107,494 | +$14,404 |
| Median (P50) | $100,330 | $115,854 | +$15,524 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $115,630 | $133,521 | +$17,891 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $145,720 | $168,267 | +$22,547 |
A Materials Engineers in Arkansas earns $100,330 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $115,854 in an average-cost state. This makes Arkansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Materials Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #14 out of 46 states for Materials Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Materials Engineers in Arkansas earns a median salary of $100,330 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $115,854 — 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 Materials Engineers in Arkansas: $100,330 x (100 / 86.6) = $115,854. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Materials 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.