Average Salary in Arkansas: Median Income by Job & City
Median annual wage, all jobs
$43,630
Half of workers in Arkansas earn more than $43,630 a year and half earn less, 14% below the U.S. median of $50,980. The average (mean) wage is $54,890.
Wages in Arkansas vs. the U.S.
| Measure | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $43,630 | $50,980 |
| Mean annual wage | $54,890 | $69,770 |
| Median hourly wage | $20.98 | $24.51 |
| 10th percentile (annual) | $27,020 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile (annual) | $31,880 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile (annual) | $61,850 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile (annual) | $94,740 | $128,560 |
| Jobs counted | 1,303,630 | 155,495,730 |
All occupations combined. Wages exclude self-employed workers and owners. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
What is a good salary in Arkansas?
In Arkansas, the lowest-paid 10% of workers earn under $27,020 a year and the top 10% earn over $94,740. A salary above the median of $43,630 puts you in the upper half of earners there.
The mean ($54,890) is higher than the median because a smaller number of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better guide to what a typical worker earns.
Median pay by occupation group in Arkansas
| Occupation group | Median annual | U.S. median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management | $84,800 | $126,520 | 95,070 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $84,450 | $109,280 | 27,920 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $77,700 | $99,520 | 13,240 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $75,070 | $86,530 | 92,160 |
| Legal | $71,410 | $102,500 | 6,620 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $65,100 | $82,660 | 69,070 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $62,820 | $82,530 | 7,800 |
| Educational Instruction and Library | $51,680 | $60,570 | 74,270 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | $49,610 | $59,620 | 62,400 |
| Community and Social Service | $46,720 | $58,300 | 15,980 |
| Construction and Extraction | $45,870 | $59,540 | 53,160 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | $44,220 | $62,750 | 11,510 |
| Protective Service | $43,350 | $50,080 | 28,860 |
| Production | $41,120 | $46,990 | 116,140 |
| Office and Administrative Support | $39,500 | $47,450 | 153,060 |
| Transportation and Material Moving | $38,640 | $44,350 | 134,380 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | $36,780 | $36,630 | 5,290 |
| Sales and Related | $32,020 | $38,530 | 114,770 |
| Healthcare Support | $31,220 | $38,340 | 52,880 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | $30,570 | $37,680 | 37,640 |
| Personal Care and Service | $29,240 | $36,410 | 19,480 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | $27,600 | $35,050 | 111,930 |
Groups follow the Standard Occupational Classification. Each group mixes many jobs, so a single job can pay well above or below its group. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest and lowest paying fields in Arkansas
The best-paid occupation groups by median wage are management ($84,800), computer and mathematical ($84,450), architecture and engineering ($77,700), healthcare practitioners and technical ($75,070), legal ($71,410).
The lowest-paid groups are food preparation and serving related ($27,600), personal care and service ($29,240), building and grounds cleaning and maintenance ($30,570).
Where these numbers come from
The Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys employers about the wages they pay each job. The figures are pre-tax and count wage and salary workers only, so they leave out self-employed people and business owners. They also do not include benefits such as health insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Arkansas?
The median annual wage for all jobs is $43,630 and the mean is $54,890.
What is the median hourly wage in Arkansas?
$20.98 an hour, across all occupations.
Do people in Arkansas earn more than the national average?
The median wage in Arkansas is 14% below the U.S. median of $50,980.
Which jobs pay the most in Arkansas?
Among broad occupation groups, management jobs have the highest median wage, at $84,800 a year.