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What does a Nursing Assistants 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 Nursing Assistants earning $34,430 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $39,757 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) | $28,840 | $33,302 | +$4,462 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $30,200 | $34,872 | +$4,672 |
| Median (P50) | $34,430 | $39,757 | +$5,327 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $36,070 | $41,651 | +$5,581 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $39,020 | $45,057 | +$6,037 |
A Nursing Assistants in Arkansas earns $34,430 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $39,757 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 Nursing Assistants, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $34,430 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $39,758 — 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 ranks #45 of 51 — bottom quartile for Nursing Assistants real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Nursing Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #45 out of 51 states for Nursing Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Nursing Assistants take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →
A Nursing Assistants in Arkansas earns a median salary of $34,430 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $39,757 — 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 Nursing Assistants in Arkansas: $34,430 x (100 / 86.6) = $39,757. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Nursing Assistants 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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