Arkansas Jobs and Wages
Wages, unemployment, minimum wage, benefits, visa filings and federal openings for Arkansas from BLS, the Department of Labor and USAJOBS.
- Median wage
- $43,630 a year
- May 2025
- Unemployment rate
- 3.9%
- Sep 2026
- Minimum wage
- $11.00/hr
- State law
- Average weekly jobless benefit
- $351
- Sep 2026
Highest paying jobs in Arkansas
Occupations with at least 100 jobs
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 350 | $262,470 | $332,090 |
| 2 | Surgeons, All Other | 280 | $254,940 | $234,560 |
| 3 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 160 | $239,200 or more | $239,200 or more |
| 4 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | 290 | $233,130 | $210,540 |
| 5 | Family Medicine Physicians | 290 | $215,820 | $232,230 |
| 6 | Physicians, Pathologists | 130 | $214,100 | $221,970 |
| 7 | Dentists, General | 1,210 | $178,930 | $174,280 |
| 8 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 250 | $168,970 | $152,980 |
Most common jobs in Arkansas
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 35,660 | $26,250 | $26,890 |
| 2 | Retail Salespersons | 35,510 | $29,270 | $32,350 |
| 3 | General and Operations Managers | 34,570 | $74,050 | $94,780 |
| 4 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 32,220 | $51,550 | $57,390 |
| 5 | Office Clerks, General | 29,940 | $37,050 | $39,270 |
| 6 | Registered Nurses | 29,400 | $78,940 | $81,520 |
| 7 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 28,350 | $34,700 | $35,550 |
| 8 | Cashiers | 28,270 | $27,670 | $28,200 |
Wages by metro area
Visa filings for jobs in this state
Employer filings with the Department of Labor
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)2,757 certified, median offer $118,154
- PERM (FY 2026 through Q3)552 certified, median offer $90,500
Top H-1B employers in Arkansas
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| # | Employer | Certified | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wal-Mart Associates, INC. | 1,143 | $132,990 |
| 2 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | 118 | $91,000 |
| 3 | J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. | 102 | $127,115 |
| 4 | Cognizant Technology Solutions US Corp | 39 | $83,325 |
| 5 | UST Global Inc | 39 | $101,259 |
| 6 | University of Arkansas | 35 | $72,000 |
| 7 | Compunnel Software Group, INC | 28 | $98,125 |
| 8 | Infosys Limited | 27 | $60,000 |
More Arkansas labor data
- Unemployment by county3.9% statewide
- Jobs by industry1.35 million jobs, +0.9% in a year
- Minimum wage$11.00 an hour
- Unemployment benefits$351 a week on average
- Union membership2.8% in 2025
- Federal job openings188 open now
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median wage in Arkansas?
- The median wage for all occupations in Arkansas is $43,630 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
- What is the unemployment rate in Arkansas?
- Arkansas's unemployment rate was 3.9% in Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- What is the highest paying job in Arkansas?
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric have the highest median wage among occupations with at least 100 jobs in Arkansas: $262,470 a year.