What does a Mechanical Engineer 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 Mechanical Engineer earning $78,570 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $90,727 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) | $53,970 | $62,321 | +$8,351 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $65,200 | $75,288 | +$10,088 |
| Median (P50) | $78,570 | $90,727 | +$12,157 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $100,860 | $116,466 | +$15,606 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $122,250 | $141,166 | +$18,916 |
A Mechanical Engineer in Arkansas earns $78,570 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $90,727 in an average-cost state. This makes Arkansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Mechanical Engineer salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #49 out of 50 states for Mechanical Engineer after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Mechanical Engineer in Arkansas earns a median salary of $78,570 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $90,727 — 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 Engineer in Arkansas: $78,570 x (100 / 86.6) = $90,727. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Mechanical Engineer 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.