Money in Arkansas is a weird subject. If you look at the raw data from the U.S. Census Bureau or the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the numbers look a bit grim compared to the rest of the country. But then you talk to someone living in Bentonville or Little Rock, and you realize the spreadsheet rarely tells the whole story.
Honestly, the average income in arkansas is a moving target.
For 2024, the median household income in the Natural State hovered around $62,106. That’s a jump from previous years, yet it still trails the national median of roughly $81,604 by a significant margin. If you’re just looking at the "average" (the mean), that number climbs to about $82,554, but averages are easily skewed by the billionaires living in the northwest corner of the state. You know the ones.
The Great Divide: Northwest vs. Everywhere Else
It’s impossible to talk about Arkansas wages without acknowledging the elephant in the room: Benton County.
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Benton County is home to Walmart, J.B. Hunt, and Tyson Foods. Because of that corporate density, the median household income there is north of $85,000. Compare that to Chicot County in the southeast, where the median drops to around $36,593. It’s like two different economies existing inside the same border.
In Little Rock (Pulaski County), the vibe is different. It’s a government and healthcare hub. The median there is about $58,326, which is closer to the state average but still feels "richer" because of the sheer volume of stable, white-collar jobs.
Does a Lower Salary Actually Matter?
You've probably heard people say, "Yeah, but it’s cheaper to live there."
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They aren't lying. According to 2026 cost of living data, Arkansas is consistently about 11% to 14% cheaper than the national average. Housing is the biggest win. While a tiny apartment in Seattle might cost you $3,000, you can still find decent entire houses in parts of Arkansas for $1,200 a month in rent.
- Housing: Roughly 25% lower than the U.S. average.
- Groceries: About 4% lower.
- Healthcare: 17% lower.
Basically, a $60,000 salary in Rogers or Fayetteville goes a lot further than $90,000 in Chicago. But—and this is a big "but"—transportation costs are higher because you have to drive everywhere. Public transit is nearly non-existent outside of very small pockets.
What Kind of Jobs Pay the Best?
If you want to beat the average income in arkansas, you have to look at specific sectors. Agriculture is the backbone of the state, but it’s not always where the highest steady paychecks are found.
- Specialized Healthcare: Nurse Practitioners and Telemedicine providers are seeing salary ranges between $89,300 and $124,000.
- Tech and Engineering: Systems Engineers in the "Data Alley" of Northwest Arkansas are pulling in upwards of $129,000.
- Aviation: Arkansas actually has a massive aerospace export industry. Drone pilots and aerospace technicians are earning well above the state mean.
The Reality for Single Earners
For a single person living alone, the median income is much tighter, sitting at approximately $29,739. That’s a tough number. It explains why Arkansas has a higher-than-average "ALICE" population (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). These are people who work hard but are one car breakdown away from a financial crisis.
Wage growth in the state has been steady, around 1.3% recently, which is slightly better than the national pace. Still, the gap between the "haves" in the corporate northwest and the "have-nots" in the rural Delta remains the defining characteristic of the Arkansas economy.
Breaking Down the Numbers by Age
Experience matters. If you're under 25, the median income is about $37,642. It peaks when people hit that 45-to-64 age bracket, reaching roughly $69,249. After 65, it dips back down to $44,711 as folks move into retirement and fixed incomes.
It’s a standard curve, but the "peak" in Arkansas is lower than in neighboring states like Texas or Missouri.
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Actionable Steps for Navigating the Arkansas Economy
If you're looking to move to Arkansas or trying to increase your earnings within the state, don't just look at the raw salary.
- Calculate the "Real Wage": Use a cost-of-living calculator to compare an Arkansas offer to a national one. A $70,000 offer in Jonesboro is effectively $95,000 in a high-cost city.
- Target Growth Zones: Focus job searches on the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro or the Little Rock-Conway corridor. These areas have the highest density of high-paying jobs.
- Look Beyond Retail: While Walmart is the biggest employer, the "secondary" industries—like the vendors who move to the state to work with Walmart—often pay more competitive salaries to attract talent.
- Check the County Stats: Before settling, check the specific median for that county. Living in a high-income county often means better schools and infrastructure, even if the taxes are a bit higher.
The average income in arkansas tells a story of a state that is affordable but still struggling to raise the floor for its lowest earners. It's a land of opportunity if you're in the right industry, but it requires a very specific strategy to make the math work in your favor.