Fastest growing jobs in Arkansas, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Arkansas. Percent growth favours small occupations, so the openings column is often the more useful number — a fast-growing job with few openings is harder to enter than a flat one with many.

State projections are produced by Arkansas's own workforce agency and collected by Projections Central — the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes projections only at the national level. Methodology varies by state, so these are not directly comparable with the national figures. Wages remain BLS OEWS.

Cost of living: prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average (2024), so a Arkansas salary is worth about 1.15× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Arkansas.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Arkansas

OccupationMedian, Arkansas · Growth 2024–34

1Nurse Practitioners$125,660
Master's degree
$99,420 – $205,810+49.9%
2Information Security Analysts$103,490
Bachelor's degree
$59,410 – $140,900+36.0%
3Physician Assistants$118,430
Master's degree
$88,160 – $159,080+33.9%
4Medical and Health Services Managers$94,340
Bachelor's degree
$55,390 – $155,210+30.4%
5Occupational Therapy Assistants$78,940
Associate's degree
$50,710 – $98,960+28.8%
6Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$37,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,210 – $47,160+28.2%
7Speech-Language Pathologists$83,580
Master's degree
$56,250 – $134,420+27.7%
8Logisticians$78,400
Bachelor's degree
$45,780 – $134,910+27.4%
9Psychiatric Technicians$35,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,790 – $44,130+27.2%
10Physical Therapist Assistants$64,520
Associate's degree
$31,540 – $85,280+26.1%
11Directors, Religious Activities and Education$33,920
Bachelor's degree
$23,750 – $81,240+25.9%
12Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$124,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,480 – $394,880+25.5%
13Religious Workers, All Other$44,760
Bachelor's degree
$29,340 – $59,330+23.7%
14Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$34,190
Associate's degree
$27,190 – $56,690+23.3%
15Clergy$49,070
Bachelor's degree
$30,070 – $78,850+23.1%
16Occupational Therapists$106,360
Master's degree
$65,160 – $144,250+22.1%
17Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$81,500
Associate's degree
$64,280 – $102,190+22.1%
18Pest Control Workers$37,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,900 – $55,970+21.9%
19Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$51,580
Master's degree
$35,760 – $100,270+21.8%
20Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$49,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,970 – $76,420+21.6%
21Financial Managers$116,570
Bachelor's degree
$62,780 – $225,010+21.5%
22Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,180 – $81,020+21.2%
23Respiratory Therapists$73,870
Associate's degree
$59,550 – $93,480+20.9%
24Medical Assistants$37,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,840 – $46,060+20.9%
25Computer and Information Systems Managers$127,220
Bachelor's degree
$78,630 – $219,250+20.8%
26Massage Therapists$39,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$24,180 – $74,530+20.2%
27Dental Hygienists$86,760
Associate's degree
$62,170 – $97,730+20.1%
28Software Developers$104,490
Bachelor's degree
$60,570 – $162,380+20.0%
29Cooks, Restaurant$30,180
No formal educational credential
$26,020 – $37,140+20.0%
30Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,940 – $31,680+19.9%
31Dental Assistants$42,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,060 – $48,330+19.5%
32Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$63,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,960 – $93,060+19.4%
33Insurance Sales Agents$56,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,300 – $122,530+18.7%
34Industrial Engineers$98,410
Bachelor's degree
$71,880 – $137,520+18.6%
35Animal Caretakers$30,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,290 – $47,990+17.1%
36Physical Therapists$99,010
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,050 – $127,210+16.9%
37Tax Preparers$35,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,990 – $66,420+16.8%
38Dentists, General$178,930
Doctoral or professional degree
$99,010 – $223,010+16.4%
39Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$42,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,710 – $59,820+16.4%
40Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$34,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,860 – $42,180+16.3%
41Crane and Tower Operators$41,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,920 – $64,100+16.2%
42Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$36,090
No formal educational credential
$22,930 – $59,680+16.0%
43Buyers and Purchasing Agents$75,870
Bachelor's degree
$42,710 – $135,830+15.9%
44Personal Financial Advisors$79,420
Bachelor's degree
$36,710 – $207,560+15.9%
45Training and Development Specialists$52,290
Bachelor's degree
$29,490 – $96,950+15.8%
46Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$44,990
Bachelor's degree
$28,780 – $77,850+15.7%
47Phlebotomists$37,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,870 – $44,280+15.7%
48Veterinarians$107,710
Doctoral or professional degree
$38,870 – $153,370+15.3%
49Electricians$49,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,910 – $74,460+15.2%
50Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$53,040
Bachelor's degree
$31,190 – $102,170+15.2%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianArkansas	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$125,660	$99,420 – $205,810	+49.9%
2	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$103,490	$59,410 – $140,900	+36.0%
3	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$118,430	$88,160 – $159,080	+33.9%
4	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$94,340	$55,390 – $155,210	+30.4%
5	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$78,940	$50,710 – $98,960	+28.8%
6	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,340	$30,210 – $47,160	+28.2%
7	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$83,580	$56,250 – $134,420	+27.7%
8	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$78,400	$45,780 – $134,910	+27.4%
9	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$35,930	$29,790 – $44,130	+27.2%
10	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,520	$31,540 – $85,280	+26.1%
11	Directors, Religious Activities and EducationBachelor's degree	$33,920	$23,750 – $81,240	+25.9%
12	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$124,890	$51,480 – $394,880	+25.5%
13	Religious Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$44,760	$29,340 – $59,330	+23.7%
14	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$34,190	$27,190 – $56,690	+23.3%
15	ClergyBachelor's degree	$49,070	$30,070 – $78,850	+23.1%
16	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$106,360	$65,160 – $144,250	+22.1%
17	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$81,500	$64,280 – $102,190	+22.1%
18	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,710	$30,900 – $55,970	+21.9%
19	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$51,580	$35,760 – $100,270	+21.8%
20	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,030	$30,970 – $76,420	+21.6%
21	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$116,570	$62,780 – $225,010	+21.5%
22	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,760	$39,180 – $81,020	+21.2%
23	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$73,870	$59,550 – $93,480	+20.9%
24	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,760	$30,840 – $46,060	+20.9%
25	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$127,220	$78,630 – $219,250	+20.8%
26	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$39,990	$24,180 – $74,530	+20.2%
27	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$86,760	$62,170 – $97,730	+20.1%
28	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$104,490	$60,570 – $162,380	+20.0%
29	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$30,180	$26,020 – $37,140	+20.0%
30	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,660	$23,940 – $31,680	+19.9%
31	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$42,830	$35,060 – $48,330	+19.5%
32	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$63,090	$48,960 – $93,060	+19.4%
33	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,720	$34,300 – $122,530	+18.7%
34	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,410	$71,880 – $137,520	+18.6%
35	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30,230	$27,290 – $47,990	+17.1%
36	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$99,010	$73,050 – $127,210	+16.9%
37	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,040	$28,990 – $66,420	+16.8%
38	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$178,930	$99,010 – $223,010	+16.4%
39	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,140	$26,710 – $59,820	+16.4%
40	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,570	$27,860 – $42,180	+16.3%
41	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,600	$35,920 – $64,100	+16.2%
42	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$36,090	$22,930 – $59,680	+16.0%
43	Buyers and Purchasing AgentsBachelor's degree	$75,870	$42,710 – $135,830	+15.9%
44	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$79,420	$36,710 – $207,560	+15.9%
45	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$52,290	$29,490 – $96,950	+15.8%
46	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$44,990	$28,780 – $77,850	+15.7%
47	PhlebotomistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,450	$30,870 – $44,280	+15.7%
48	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$107,710	$38,870 – $153,370	+15.3%
49	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,070	$34,910 – $74,460	+15.2%
50	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$53,040	$31,190 – $102,170	+15.2%

More for Arkansas

Metro areas in Arkansas

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Arkansas

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Arkansas to rank honestly.

Fastest growing jobs in Arkansas, 2024–34

More for Arkansas

Metro areas in Arkansas

By field in Arkansas

Without a degree

Fastest growing jobs in each state, 2024–34