Jobs that actually got a raise in Arkansas

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$124,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,480 – $394,880+70.9%+115.2% nominal
2Therapists, All Other$61,920
Bachelor's degree
$43,870 – $127,800+60.9%+102.6% nominal
3Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$50,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,170 – $104,530+42.5%+79.5% nominal
4Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$58,590
Master's degree
$39,440 – $99,070+33.3%+67.9% nominal
5Driver/Sales Workers$39,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,260 – $59,050+33.3%+67.8% nominal
6Machine Feeders and Offbearers$45,250
No formal educational credential
$33,280 – $49,760+28.4%+61.7% nominal
7Purchasing Managers$156,450
Bachelor's degree
$74,290 – $273,100+27.8%+60.9% nominal
8Computer Programmers$111,840
Bachelor's degree
$63,520 – $167,020+27.2%+60.2% nominal
9Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$46,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,470 – $55,080+26.7%+59.5% nominal
10Psychiatric Aides$36,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,030 – $39,950+22.3%+53.9% nominal
11Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,590 – $64,920+21.8%+53.4% nominal
12Residential Advisors$38,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,330 – $48,750+21.5%+53.0% nominal
13Sewing Machine Operators$35,630
No formal educational credential
$27,810 – $45,660+20.1%+51.2% nominal
14Food Processing Workers, All Other$37,840
No formal educational credential
$34,730 – $47,190+17.7%+48.2% nominal
15Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$30,240
No formal educational credential
$25,810 – $39,720+17.4%+47.9% nominal
16Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$31,660
No formal educational credential
$25,410 – $61,520+16.9%+47.3% nominal
17Light Truck Drivers$37,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,100 – $72,880+16.7%+47.0% nominal
18Counter and Rental Clerks$34,940
No formal educational credential
$26,470 – $59,700+16.6%+46.9% nominal
19Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$28,790
Some college, no degree
$23,670 – $38,360+16.3%+46.5% nominal
20Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$45,080
No formal educational credential
$37,270 – $49,960+14.7%+44.4% nominal
21Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$34,750
No formal educational credential
$27,760 – $46,750+13.5%+42.9% nominal
22Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$34,970
No formal educational credential
$26,840 – $42,420+13.2%+42.5% nominal
23Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$44,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,890 – $61,910+12.1%+41.1% nominal
24Telemarketers$29,060
No formal educational credential
$28,450 – $37,130+12.1%+41.1% nominal
25Roofers$47,470
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $58,270+12.1%+41.1% nominal
26Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$28,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,920 – $49,990+12.1%+41.1% nominal
27Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$44,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,890 – $50,650+11.9%+40.9% nominal
28Tellers$35,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,020 – $44,950+11.7%+40.6% nominal
29Stockers and Order Fillers$34,700
No formal educational credential
$28,710 – $46,370+11.3%+40.1% nominal
30Surgical Technologists$57,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,750 – $75,460+11.3%+40.1% nominal
31Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$56,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,670 – $65,020+11.2%+40.0% nominal
32Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $61,760+11.2%+40.0% nominal
33Childcare Workers$28,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,940 – $33,640+10.9%+39.6% nominal
34Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,050 – $54,960+10.7%+39.4% nominal
35Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$28,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,150 – $35,140+10.6%+39.3% nominal
36Production Workers, All Other$36,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,110 – $51,200+10.5%+39.1% nominal
37Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$35,920
No formal educational credential
$28,090 – $45,920+10.5%+39.1% nominal
38Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$35,770
No formal educational credential
$26,710 – $45,310+10.3%+38.9% nominal
39Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$37,980
No formal educational credential
$33,470 – $44,540+10.1%+38.6% nominal
40Lodging Managers$45,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,590 – $96,010+10.1%+38.7% nominal
41Security Guards$35,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,870 – $57,410+10.0%+38.5% nominal
42Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,420
Associate's degree
$49,880 – $81,490+9.9%+38.4% nominal
43Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,110 – $58,940+9.4%+37.8% nominal
44Printing Press Operators$46,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,540 – $64,060+9.4%+37.8% nominal
45Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,960
No formal educational credential
$23,690 – $35,190+9.2%+37.5% nominal
46Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$28,460
No formal educational credential
$23,640 – $34,170+9.0%+37.2% nominal
47Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$27,670
No formal educational credential
$24,230 – $37,150+8.9%+37.1% nominal
48Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$43,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,140 – $63,130+8.8%+37.0% nominal
49Personal Financial Advisors$79,420
Bachelor's degree
$36,710 – $207,560+8.8%+37.0% nominal
50Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$50,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,150 – $50,050+8.2%+36.2% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$124,890	$51,480 – $394,880	+70.9%+115.2% nominal
2	Therapists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$61,920	$43,870 – $127,800	+60.9%+102.6% nominal
3	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,070	$35,170 – $104,530	+42.5%+79.5% nominal
4	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$58,590	$39,440 – $99,070	+33.3%+67.9% nominal
5	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,820	$24,260 – $59,050	+33.3%+67.8% nominal
6	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$45,250	$33,280 – $49,760	+28.4%+61.7% nominal
7	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$156,450	$74,290 – $273,100	+27.8%+60.9% nominal
8	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$111,840	$63,520 – $167,020	+27.2%+60.2% nominal
9	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,200	$32,470 – $55,080	+26.7%+59.5% nominal
10	Psychiatric AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,270	$27,030 – $39,950	+22.3%+53.9% nominal
11	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,320	$38,590 – $64,920	+21.8%+53.4% nominal
12	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,300	$26,330 – $48,750	+21.5%+53.0% nominal
13	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$35,630	$27,810 – $45,660	+20.1%+51.2% nominal
14	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$37,840	$34,730 – $47,190	+17.7%+48.2% nominal
15	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$30,240	$25,810 – $39,720	+17.4%+47.9% nominal
16	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$31,660	$25,410 – $61,520	+16.9%+47.3% nominal
17	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,080	$27,100 – $72,880	+16.7%+47.0% nominal
18	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$34,940	$26,470 – $59,700	+16.6%+46.9% nominal
19	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$28,790	$23,670 – $38,360	+16.3%+46.5% nominal
20	Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$45,080	$37,270 – $49,960	+14.7%+44.4% nominal
21	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$34,750	$27,760 – $46,750	+13.5%+42.9% nominal
22	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$34,970	$26,840 – $42,420	+13.2%+42.5% nominal
23	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,570	$33,890 – $61,910	+12.1%+41.1% nominal
24	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$29,060	$28,450 – $37,130	+12.1%+41.1% nominal
25	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$47,470	$31,200 – $58,270	+12.1%+41.1% nominal
26	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$28,830	$23,920 – $49,990	+12.1%+41.1% nominal
27	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,010	$35,890 – $50,650	+11.9%+40.9% nominal
28	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,710	$29,020 – $44,950	+11.7%+40.6% nominal
29	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$34,700	$28,710 – $46,370	+11.3%+40.1% nominal
30	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,400	$38,750 – $75,460	+11.3%+40.1% nominal
31	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,620	$44,670 – $65,020	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
32	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,150	$39,110 – $61,760	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
33	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,450	$23,940 – $33,640	+10.9%+39.6% nominal
34	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,080	$31,050 – $54,960	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
35	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,300	$24,150 – $35,140	+10.6%+39.3% nominal
36	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,030	$29,110 – $51,200	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
37	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$35,920	$28,090 – $45,920	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
38	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,770	$26,710 – $45,310	+10.3%+38.9% nominal
39	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$37,980	$33,470 – $44,540	+10.1%+38.6% nominal
40	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,870	$34,590 – $96,010	+10.1%+38.7% nominal
41	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,770	$28,870 – $57,410	+10.0%+38.5% nominal
42	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,420	$49,880 – $81,490	+9.9%+38.4% nominal
43	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,790	$31,110 – $58,940	+9.4%+37.8% nominal
44	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,470	$28,540 – $64,060	+9.4%+37.8% nominal
45	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$27,960	$23,690 – $35,190	+9.2%+37.5% nominal
46	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,460	$23,640 – $34,170	+9.0%+37.2% nominal
47	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$27,670	$24,230 – $37,150	+8.9%+37.1% nominal
48	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,400	$29,140 – $63,130	+8.8%+37.0% nominal
49	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$79,420	$36,710 – $207,560	+8.8%+37.0% nominal
50	Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,010	$47,150 – $50,050	+8.2%+36.2% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Arkansas

More for Arkansas

Metro areas in Arkansas

By field in Arkansas

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state