Credit Counselors Salary
Credit Counselors in Arkansas make a median of $45,060 a year, or about $21.67 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $51,415 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 33.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arkansas. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $45K get you in Arkansas?
About credit counselors
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for credit counselors in Arkansas runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $52K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level credit counselors (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track credit counselors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a credit counselor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 33.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for credit counselors in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new credit counselors typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,100/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is credit counselor a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $45K here vs. $52K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for credit counselors?
Arkansas pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do credit counselors make in Arkansas?
The median is $45,060 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,000, and experienced credit counselors can clear $62,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,055/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 33.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a credit counselors salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median credit counselors salary is worth about $51,415 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do credit counselors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.