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What does a Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers 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 Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers earning $38,980 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $45,011 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) | $37,550 | $43,360 | +$5,810 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $37,560 | $43,371 | +$5,811 |
| Median (P50) | $38,980 | $45,011 | +$6,031 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $48,800 | $56,351 | +$7,551 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $72,340 | $83,533 | +$11,193 |
A Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas earns $38,980 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $45,011 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 Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $38,980 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $45,012 — 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 #17 of 17 — bottom quartile for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #17 out of 17 states for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →
A Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas earns a median salary of $38,980 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $45,011 — 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 Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas: $38,980 x (100 / 86.6) = $45,011. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers 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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