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Nurse Practitioners Salary in Arkansas: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Nurse Practitioners salary really buy you in Arkansas?

Arkansas is 13.4% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$125,660
Median annual (2025)
+15.5%
Real Purchasing Power
$145,103
COL-adjusted (RPP=86.6)

Arkansas Cost of Living Index

Arkansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 86.6, meaning prices are 13.4% lower the national average. A Nurse Practitioners earning $125,660 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $145,103 in an average-cost US state.

AR: 86.6
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

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) $99,420 $114,803 +$15,383
25th Percentile (P25) $105,450 $121,766 +$16,316
Median (P50) $125,660 $145,103 +$19,443
75th Percentile (P75) $137,550 $158,833 +$21,283
90th Percentile (P90) $205,810 $237,655 +$31,845
Key Insight

A Nurse Practitioners in Arkansas earns $125,660 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $145,103 in an average-cost state. This makes Arkansas one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Arkansas Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 86.6

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 Nurse Practitioners, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Sizable COL Effect Reshapes This Salary

+15.5%

Adjusting $125,660 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $145,104 — 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.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#13 / 51

Arkansas sits at #13 of 51 states for Nurse Practitioners COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Nurse Practitioners (After Cost of Living)

Where does Nurse Practitioners salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Alaska
$152,127
RPP 102.0
2. Montana
$151,949
RPP 90.3
$151,120
RPP 91.0
$150,213
RPP 88.8
$149,795
RPP 112.5
6. Iowa
$147,239
RPP 88.4
$147,138
RPP 89.8
$146,640
RPP 88.7
$146,424
RPP 108.8
$146,409
RPP 88.0

Arkansas ranks #13 out of 51 states for Nurse Practitioners after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Nurse Practitioners take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Nurse Practitioners in Arkansas after cost of living?

A Nurse Practitioners in Arkansas earns a median salary of $125,660 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $145,103 — a +15.5% difference.

Is Arkansas expensive to live in?

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).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Nurse Practitioners in Arkansas: $125,660 x (100 / 86.6) = $145,103. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Nurse Practitioners in Arkansas financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Nurse Practitioners 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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