Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Salary
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in Arkansas make a median of $73,130 a year, or about $35.16 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $83,444 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 21.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Arkansas?
About occupational health and safety specialists
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for occupational health and safety specialists in Arkansas runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $90K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 21.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Arkansas can be a reasonable trade-off for occupational health and safety specialistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level occupational health and safety specialists (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary by metro in Arkansas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $79K | +8% | 140 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $74K | +2% | 220 |
| Fort Smith | $61K | -16% | 100 |
| Jonesboro | $56K | -24% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational health and safety specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational health and safety specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 21.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational health and safety specialists in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational health and safety specialists typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,869/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is occupational health and safety specialist a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $73K here vs. $90K 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 occupational health and safety specialists?
Arkansas pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $90K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — below the national median.
How much do occupational health and safety specialists make in Arkansas?
The median is $73,130 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,810, and experienced occupational health and safety specialists can clear $113,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,762/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 21.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a occupational health and safety specialists 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 occupational health and safety specialists salary is worth about $83,444 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do occupational health and safety 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.