Average and median wage in Arkansas
Half of the 1,303,630 workers in Arkansas earn less than $43,630 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $54,890, or $26.39 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $27,020 or less and the top 10% $94,740 or more. The average is 21% less than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 14% less than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $27K10th
- $32K25th
- $44KMedian
- $62K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Arkansas per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,890 | $26.39 | $69,770 |
| Median | $43,630 | $20.98 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $27,020 | $12.99 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $31,880 | $15.33 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $61,850 | $29.74 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $94,740 | $45.55 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Arkansas
- Fayetteville$61,240
- Little Rock$58,000
- Jonesboro$52,610
- Fort Smith$50,300
- Hot Springs$48,190
Map of Arkansas metro areas
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $61,240 | $46,610 | $49,608 | 91 | $368,497 |
| Little Rock | $58,000 | $45,790 | $47,125 | 89 | $231,039 |
| Jonesboro | $52,610 | $42,240 | $42,994 | 86 | $205,822 |
| Fort Smith | $50,300 | $39,560 | $41,223 | 86 | $205,554 |
| Hot Springs | $48,190 | $36,540 | $39,605 | 86 | $245,332 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Arkansas
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Jonesboro$293,670
- Physicians, All Other · Jonesboro$274,620
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary · Little Rock$243,480
- Family Medicine Physicians · Little Rock$240,000
- Physicians, All Other · Fort Smith$239,000
- Physicians, All Other · Fayetteville$228,210
- Family Medicine Physicians · Fayetteville$227,700
- Animal Scientists · Fayetteville$225,270
- Chief Executives · Fayetteville$222,760
- Nurse Anesthetists · Little Rock$219,780
Most common jobs in Arkansas
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 35,660 | $26,890 | $26,250 | $28,220 |
| Retail Salespersons | 35,510 | $32,350 | $29,270 | $33,620 |
| General and Operations Managers | 34,570 | $94,780 | $74,050 | $108,510 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 32,220 | $57,390 | $51,550 | $63,160 |
| Office Clerks, General | 29,940 | $39,270 | $37,050 | $42,030 |
| Registered Nurses | 29,400 | $81,520 | $78,940 | $85,890 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 28,350 | $35,550 | $34,700 | $37,430 |
| Cashiers | 28,270 | $28,200 | $27,670 | $30,260 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 21,430 | $36,730 | $35,920 | $39,710 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 20,680 | $41,390 | $37,840 | $43,570 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Arkansas
Arkansas income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Arkansas's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare. Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Arkansas at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
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- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
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- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in Arkansas: questions
What is the average salary in Arkansas?
$54,890 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 21% less than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Arkansas?
$43,630 a year: half of Arkansas workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Arkansas?
$26.39 an hour on average, and $20.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Arkansas pays the most?
Fayetteville, with an average of $61,240 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Arkansas expensive to live in?
BEA puts Arkansas prices 13% below the U.S. average (price parity 86.9). Within the state, Fayetteville 91, Little Rock 89, Fort Smith 86 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Arkansas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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