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What does a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers 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 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earning $34,570 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $39,919 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) | $27,860 | $32,170 | +$4,310 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $29,500 | $34,064 | +$4,564 |
| Median (P50) | $34,570 | $39,919 | +$5,349 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $36,830 | $42,528 | +$5,698 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $42,180 | $48,706 | +$6,526 |
A Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Arkansas earns $34,570 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $39,919 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 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $34,570 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $39,919 — 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 sits at #24 of 51 states for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #24 out of 51 states for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →
A Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Arkansas earns a median salary of $34,570 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $39,919 — 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 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Arkansas: $34,570 x (100 / 86.6) = $39,919. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers 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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