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What does a School Bus Monitors 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 School Bus Monitors earning $28,260 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $32,632 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) | $23,160 | $26,743 | +$3,583 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $25,150 | $29,041 | +$3,891 |
| Median (P50) | $28,260 | $32,632 | +$4,372 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $34,820 | $40,207 | +$5,387 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $41,190 | $47,563 | +$6,373 |
A School Bus Monitors in Arkansas earns $28,260 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $32,632 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 School Bus Monitors, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $28,260 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $32,633 — 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 #39 of 50 — bottom quartile for School Bus Monitors real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does School Bus Monitors salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #39 out of 50 states for School Bus Monitors after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See School Bus Monitors take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →
A School Bus Monitors in Arkansas earns a median salary of $28,260 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $32,632 — 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 School Bus Monitors in Arkansas: $28,260 x (100 / 86.6) = $32,632. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A School Bus Monitors 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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