Arkansas Minimum Wage 2026
Arkansas' minimum wage of $11 in 2026 is about average in the United States, and it is significantly higher than than the base federal minimum wage of $7.25 still used in 20 states.
Federal 
Arkansas Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the weekly minimum wage in Arkansas is $440. For full-time employees working 52 weeks per year, the annual minimum wage in Arkansas is $22.9K.
Based on $11/hr minimum
Based on $11/hr minimum
The minimum wage rate of Arkansas and its neighboring states ranges from $7.25 to $15, with an average of $8.89. Arkansas, at $11, has an above average hourly minimum wage within this group of states. Missouri ($15) has higher hourly rates than Arkansas. Kansas ($7.25), Louisiana ($7.25), Mississippi ($7.25), Oklahoma ($7.25), and Texas ($7.25) have lower hourly rates than Arkansas.
Arkansas While the general minimum wage is $11 per hour in Arkansas, there are several exceptions where workers may legally receive less than this amount:
Providing a record of the student's status from an accredited organization is provided before employment, full time students' minimum wage is 85% of the State mandated law.
Anyone classed as a learner or apprentice has a minimum wage of 85% of the State standard.
Employers are able to apply for authorization to pay a special minimum wage rate to certain disabled employees whose disability or age 'impairs their earning capacity'
Employees who hold public office, or assist elected officials as staff or in policymaking are exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
These employees, defined as 'computer employees' in Arkansas state law, are exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
These workers who customarily perform their services away from their employer's premises are exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
Students performing services for the institution they are enrolled at are exempt from state minimum wage legislation
Anyone employed by the United States government is exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
Anyone volunteering for a charity or non-profit organization, where an employer-employee relationship does not exist and work is rendered gratuitously is exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
These workers, as defined by Arkansas state law, are exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
Employees of Agricultural employers using less than 500 man-days of labor are exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
Parents, spouses, children or members of an agricultural employer's immediate family are exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
Hand-harvest labor on a piece-rate basis and workers employed in the range production of livestock are exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
Workers in these industries are exempt from state minimum wage legislation provided the number of people employed in the operation does not exceed 8 persons.
Provided the camp does not operate for more than seven months in a calendar year, employees are exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
An employee working for a child welfare agency that is not for profit and serves as a houseparent is exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
An employee working in connection with the publication of weekly, semiweekly or daily newspaper with a circulation of fewer than 4000 is exempt from minimum wage legislation.
Employees in this category, such as casual babysitters or elderly companions, is exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
Employees involved in the delivery of newspapers to the consumer is exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
Home workers involved in wreath-making are exempt from state minimum wage legislation.
Arkansas' cost of living index for 2025 is 89.6, which places it as the 46th most expensive state to live in the United States.
National 100
Arkansas 89.6
Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the real wage in Arkansas, adjusted for the state’s cost of living index of 89.6, is approximately $12.28 per hour. This means that while the nominal minimum wage is $11 per hour, the purchasing power of those earnings is higher due to Arkansas' lower cost of living expenses. For full-time employees, the real weekly earnings amount to roughly $491.07, translating to an annual purchasing power of $25,535.71 when working 52 weeks per year.
Adjusted
Adjusted
Adjusted
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According to the most recent data, the median household income in the United States has seen a significant increase in 2023.
Arkansas’s minimum wage is $11.00 per hour, set through a 2018 voter-approved ballot measure that gradually increased the rate through 2021 and does not include automatic annual inflation adjustments.
