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What does a Waiters and Waitresses 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 Waiters and Waitresses earning $24,680 in Arkansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $28,498 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) | $23,040 | $26,605 | +$3,565 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $23,430 | $27,055 | +$3,625 |
| Median (P50) | $24,680 | $28,498 | +$3,818 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $30,450 | $35,161 | +$4,711 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $43,810 | $50,588 | +$6,778 |
A Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas earns $24,680 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $28,498 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 Waiters and Waitresses, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $24,680 for Arkansas's cost of living yields $28,499 — 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 51 — bottom quartile for Waiters and Waitresses real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Waiters and Waitresses salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Arkansas ranks #39 out of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Waiters and Waitresses take-home pay in Arkansas after taxes →
A Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas earns a median salary of $24,680 per year. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (RPP=86.6), the real purchasing power is $28,498 — 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 Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas: $24,680 x (100 / 86.6) = $28,498. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Waiters and Waitresses 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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