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What does a Mechanical Drafters 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 Mechanical Drafters earning $59,960 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $69,237 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) | $48,850 | $56,408 | +$7,558 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $51,860 | $59,884 | +$8,024 |
| Median (P50) | $59,960 | $69,237 | +$9,277 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $70,750 | $81,697 | +$10,947 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $81,010 | $93,545 | +$12,535 |
A Mechanical Drafters in Arkansas earns $59,960 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $69,237 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 Mechanical Drafters, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $59,960 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $69,238 — 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's rank of #27 of 47 states means real purchasing power for Mechanical Drafters trails the national half-way line.
Where does Mechanical Drafters salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #27 out of 47 states for Mechanical Drafters after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Mechanical Drafters take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →
A Mechanical Drafters in Arkansas earns a median salary of $59,960 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $69,237 — 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 Mechanical Drafters in Arkansas: $59,960 x (100 / 86.6) = $69,237. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Mechanical Drafters 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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