Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists Salary
The median pay for a market research analysts and marketing specialists in Fort Smith, AR-OK is $58,970/year ($28.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.89), which stretches that salary to about $68,658 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $937/month, or 24.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $59K get you in Fort Smith?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fort Smith’s Regional Price Parity (85.89). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About market research analysts and marketing specialists
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What this looks like in Fort Smith
Pay for market research analysts and marketing specialists in Fort Smith runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $79K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $937/month, 23.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Fort Smith can be a reasonable trade-off for market research analysts and marketing specialistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for market research analysts and marketing specialists in metros near Fort Smith, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $83K | $91K |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $63K | $70K |
| Jonesboro | $51K | $59K |
| Hot Springs | $51K | $59K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fort Smith, AR-OK
Entry-level market research analysts and marketing specialists (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $88K spread from bottom to top.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $102K | +29% | 39,710 |
| Delaware | $101K | +29% | 3,570 |
| New York | $99K | +25% | 80,500 |
| District of Columbia | $98K | +25% | 6,340 |
| Washington | $95K | +21% | 24,460 |
| California | $95K | +20% | 119,070 |
| Colorado | $93K | +18% | 27,880 |
| New Jersey | $88K | +12% | 22,990 |
| Minnesota | $88K | +11% | 21,280 |
| Rhode Island | $86K | +9% | 3,210 |
| Oregon | $79K | +0% | 11,310 |
| Illinois | $79K | +0% | 40,560 |
| North Carolina | $78K | -0% | 30,700 |
| Connecticut | $78K | -1% | 9,930 |
| Virginia | $77K | -2% | 25,610 |
| Maryland | $76K | -3% | 13,570 |
| Georgia | $76K | -4% | 27,810 |
| Florida | $75K | -4% | 60,770 |
| Vermont | $75K | -5% | 860 |
| Ohio | $73K | -8% | 27,370 |
| Texas | $73K | -8% | 63,350 |
| Maine | $72K | -9% | 2,390 |
| Arizona | $72K | -9% | 15,850 |
| Nevada | $72K | -9% | 5,780 |
| Kansas | $70K | -11% | 8,090 |
| Missouri | $70K | -11% | 14,890 |
| Tennessee | $70K | -11% | 13,040 |
| South Carolina | $69K | -12% | 11,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $69K | -13% | 31,040 |
| Montana | $68K | -14% | 1,460 |
| Michigan | $67K | -15% | 24,220 |
| Alaska | $67K | -15% | 570 |
| Iowa | $66K | -16% | 8,880 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -17% | 6,250 |
| Wisconsin | $65K | -18% | 15,600 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | -18% | 4,200 |
| Indiana | $64K | -19% | 14,400 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -19% | 1,530 |
| Utah | $63K | -20% | 14,510 |
| New Mexico | $62K | -21% | 1,610 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -21% | 6,620 |
| North Dakota | $62K | -22% | 1,550 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -22% | 6,290 |
| Wyoming | $61K | -23% | 850 |
| Idaho | $61K | -23% | 3,780 |
| Nebraska | $60K | -24% | 3,780 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -24% | 5,360 |
| Alabama | $60K | -24% | 8,390 |
| Hawaii | $59K | -25% | 1,610 |
| Mississippi | $57K | -28% | 2,620 |
| West Virginia | $52K | -34% | 1,650 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a market research analysts and marketing specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Fort Smith?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 23.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $937/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for market research analysts and marketing specialists in Fort Smith?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new market research analysts and marketing specialists typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,144/month. At HUD’s $937/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is market research analysts and marketing specialist a high-paying job in Fort Smith?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $59K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Fort Smith compare to the national average for market research analysts and marketing specialists?
Fort Smith pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do market research analysts and marketing specialists make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median is $58,970 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,730, and experienced market research analysts and marketing specialists can clear $123,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Fort Smith?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,941/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $937/month, which eats 23.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a market research analysts and marketing specialists salary go in Fort Smith?
Fort Smith has a Regional Price Parity of 85.89 (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 market research analysts and marketing specialists salary is worth about $68,658 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do market research analysts and marketing specialists 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.