Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Arkansas

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

Cost of living: prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average (2024), so a Arkansas salary is worth about 1.15× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Arkansas.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Arkansas

OccupationMedian, Arkansas · Real change since 2019

1Special Education Teachers, Preschool$35,580
Bachelor's degree
$27,800 – $53,990-38.6%-22.6% nominal
2Producers and Directors$38,820
Bachelor's degree
$24,090 – $76,110-37.5%-21.2% nominal
3Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$46,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,340 – $59,170-32.8%-15.4% nominal
4Education Administrators, Postsecondary$78,240
Master's degree
$51,910 – $166,240-30.8%-12.8% nominal
5Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$42,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,310 – $80,990-28.9%-10.5% nominal
6Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$61,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,190 – $89,680-27.0%-8.1% nominal
7Biological Technicians$46,930
Bachelor's degree
$34,920 – $73,750-27.0%-8.0% nominal
8Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$89,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,620 – $174,990-25.9%-6.7% nominal
9Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$51,580
Master's degree
$35,760 – $100,270-25.6%-6.3% nominal
10Marketing Managers$136,520
Bachelor's degree
$67,340 – $223,680-25.3%-5.9% nominal
11Sales Managers$108,330
Bachelor's degree
$53,860 – $245,640-25.3%-6.0% nominal
12Massage Therapists$39,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$24,180 – $74,530-24.8%-5.3% nominal
13Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$36,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,250 – $45,510-24.7%-5.2% nominal
14Financial Examiners$57,590
Bachelor's degree
$46,630 – $125,840-24.2%-4.6% nominal
15Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$54,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$31,760 – $98,680-23.4%-3.5% nominal
16Crane and Tower Operators$41,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,920 – $64,100-23.4%-3.6% nominal
17Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280-22.8%-2.8% nominal
18Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$55,140
Bachelor's degree
$30,840 – $85,090-22.1%-1.9% nominal
19Rehabilitation Counselors$35,210
Master's degree
$24,580 – $70,670-21.8%-1.5% nominal
20Real Estate Sales Agents$38,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,600 – $100,800-21.1%-0.6% nominal
21Medical Equipment Repairers$38,950
Associate's degree
$28,430 – $90,120-20.7%-0.2% nominal
22First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$64,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,930 – $146,810-20.5%+0.1% nominal
23Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$36,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,800 – $108,620-20.3%+0.4% nominal
24Interior Designers$69,990
Bachelor's degree
$45,390 – $137,160-19.9%+0.8% nominal
25Surveyors$51,800
Bachelor's degree
$36,380 – $91,610-18.5%+2.6% nominal
26Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$39,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,920 – $61,880-18.5%+2.6% nominal
27Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$51,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,830 – $82,110-18.0%+3.2% nominal
28Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$38,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,870 – $64,940-17.8%+3.5% nominal
29First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$36,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $69,020-17.7%+3.7% nominal
30First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$49,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,610 – $66,330-17.2%+4.3% nominal
31General and Operations Managers$74,050
Bachelor's degree
$36,200 – $173,080-17.1%+4.4% nominal
32Human Resources Specialists$55,010
Bachelor's degree
$32,030 – $99,990-16.6%+5.0% nominal
33Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$65,430
Bachelor's degree
$34,560 – $136,310-16.6%+5.0% nominal
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$55,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,630 – $132,200-16.2%+5.5% nominal
35Social and Community Service Managers$56,100
Bachelor's degree
$36,530 – $91,920-16.0%+5.8% nominal
36Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$50,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,930 – $107,210-15.8%+6.0% nominal
37Chefs and Head Cooks$46,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,500 – $87,730-15.1%+6.9% nominal
38Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$56,800
Master's degree
$31,640 – $73,210-15.1%+6.9% nominal
39Self-Enrichment Teachers$30,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,080 – $49,990-14.8%+7.2% nominal
40Accountants and Auditors$66,330
Bachelor's degree
$45,810 – $119,520-14.2%+8.0% nominal
41Cost Estimators$61,470
Bachelor's degree
$38,480 – $110,040-13.8%+8.6% nominal
42Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$86,330
Master's degree
$68,090 – $107,410-13.6%+8.9% nominal
43Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$29,230
Bachelor's degree
$24,440 – $36,040-13.5%+8.9% nominal
44Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$37,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,690 – $47,960-13.5%+8.9% nominal
45Physical Therapist Assistants$64,520
Associate's degree
$31,540 – $85,280-13.1%+9.5% nominal
46Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$52,060
Bachelor's degree
$47,240 – $65,710-13.1%+9.4% nominal
47Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$52,700
Bachelor's degree
$49,380 – $63,120-12.8%+9.8% nominal
48Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$54,660
Bachelor's degree
$38,360 – $131,020-12.8%+9.8% nominal
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$50,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $85,600-12.7%+10.0% nominal
50Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$59,770
Master's degree
$38,520 – $78,070-12.7%+10.0% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianArkansas	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Special Education Teachers, PreschoolBachelor's degree	$35,580	$27,800 – $53,990	-38.6%-22.6% nominal
2	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$38,820	$24,090 – $76,110	-37.5%-21.2% nominal
3	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,290	$35,340 – $59,170	-32.8%-15.4% nominal
4	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$78,240	$51,910 – $166,240	-30.8%-12.8% nominal
5	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,040	$30,310 – $80,990	-28.9%-10.5% nominal
6	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,440	$38,190 – $89,680	-27.0%-8.1% nominal
7	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$46,930	$34,920 – $73,750	-27.0%-8.0% nominal
8	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,200	$52,620 – $174,990	-25.9%-6.7% nominal
9	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$51,580	$35,760 – $100,270	-25.6%-6.3% nominal
10	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$136,520	$67,340 – $223,680	-25.3%-5.9% nominal
11	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$108,330	$53,860 – $245,640	-25.3%-6.0% nominal
12	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$39,990	$24,180 – $74,530	-24.8%-5.3% nominal
13	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,230	$28,250 – $45,510	-24.7%-5.2% nominal
14	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$57,590	$46,630 – $125,840	-24.2%-4.6% nominal
15	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$54,620	$31,760 – $98,680	-23.4%-3.5% nominal
16	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,600	$35,920 – $64,100	-23.4%-3.6% nominal
17	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,280	-22.8%-2.8% nominal
18	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$55,140	$30,840 – $85,090	-22.1%-1.9% nominal
19	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$35,210	$24,580 – $70,670	-21.8%-1.5% nominal
20	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,180	$24,600 – $100,800	-21.1%-0.6% nominal
21	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$38,950	$28,430 – $90,120	-20.7%-0.2% nominal
22	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,980	$44,930 – $146,810	-20.5%+0.1% nominal
23	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,630	$34,800 – $108,620	-20.3%+0.4% nominal
24	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$69,990	$45,390 – $137,160	-19.9%+0.8% nominal
25	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$51,800	$36,380 – $91,610	-18.5%+2.6% nominal
26	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,920	$34,920 – $61,880	-18.5%+2.6% nominal
27	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,600	$37,830 – $82,110	-18.0%+3.2% nominal
28	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,040	$26,870 – $64,940	-17.8%+3.5% nominal
29	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,950	$28,600 – $69,020	-17.7%+3.7% nominal
30	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,590	$39,610 – $66,330	-17.2%+4.3% nominal
31	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$74,050	$36,200 – $173,080	-17.1%+4.4% nominal
32	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$55,010	$32,030 – $99,990	-16.6%+5.0% nominal
33	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$65,430	$34,560 – $136,310	-16.6%+5.0% nominal
34	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,120	$29,630 – $132,200	-16.2%+5.5% nominal
35	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$56,100	$36,530 – $91,920	-16.0%+5.8% nominal
36	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,570	$30,930 – $107,210	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
37	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,170	$33,500 – $87,730	-15.1%+6.9% nominal
38	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$56,800	$31,640 – $73,210	-15.1%+6.9% nominal
39	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30,810	$23,080 – $49,990	-14.8%+7.2% nominal
40	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$66,330	$45,810 – $119,520	-14.2%+8.0% nominal
41	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$61,470	$38,480 – $110,040	-13.8%+8.6% nominal
42	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$86,330	$68,090 – $107,410	-13.6%+8.9% nominal
43	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$29,230	$24,440 – $36,040	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
44	Medical Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,000	$31,690 – $47,960	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
45	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,520	$31,540 – $85,280	-13.1%+9.5% nominal
46	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$52,060	$47,240 – $65,710	-13.1%+9.4% nominal
47	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$52,700	$49,380 – $63,120	-12.8%+9.8% nominal
48	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$54,660	$38,360 – $131,020	-12.8%+9.8% nominal
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,350	$38,130 – $85,600	-12.7%+10.0% nominal
50	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$59,770	$38,520 – $78,070	-12.7%+10.0% nominal

More for Arkansas

Metro areas in Arkansas

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Arkansas

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Arkansas to rank honestly.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Arkansas

More for Arkansas

Metro areas in Arkansas

By field in Arkansas

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state