Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Surgical 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 Surgical Assistants earning $49,600 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $57,274 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) | $35,310 | $40,773 | +$5,463 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $36,800 | $42,494 | +$5,694 |
| Median (P50) | $49,600 | $57,274 | +$7,674 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $78,790 | $90,981 | +$12,191 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $110,160 | $127,205 | +$17,045 |
A Surgical Assistants in Arkansas earns $49,600 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $57,274 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 Surgical Assistants, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $49,600 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $57,275 — 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's rank of #33 of 44 states means real purchasing power for Surgical Assistants trails the national half-way line.
Where does Surgical Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #33 out of 44 states for Surgical Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Surgical Assistants take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →
A Surgical Assistants in Arkansas earns a median salary of $49,600 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $57,274 — 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 Surgical Assistants in Arkansas: $49,600 x (100 / 86.6) = $57,274. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Surgical 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.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.