How Much Does a CNA Make in Fort Smith, AR in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Fort Smith, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Arkansas.
BLS OES May 2025 · Fort Smith metro area
A typical CNA in Fort Smith, Arkansas earns $15.39 per hour, or $32,020 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $2,668 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $25,040, and the top 10% of earners make over $36,960.
That pay is 7% below the Arkansas figure of $34,430 and 24% below the national figure of $42,260. Fort Smith ranks 4th of 5 metro areas in Arkansas for CNA pay. About 1,580 CNAs work in the Fort Smith area.
CNA pay in Fort Smith at a glance
- Typical pay is $15.39 an hour, or $32,020 a year.
- That is 7% below the Arkansas figure, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $25,040; the top 10% make over $36,960.
- Typical pay rose +58% from 2015 to 2025, against +59% for Arkansas as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Fort Smith?
Pay in Fort Smith runs from entry-level positions at around $12.04 an hour to more than $17.77 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Arkansas and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Fort Smith
| Career stage | Fort Smith | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $25,040$12.04 an hour | $28,840$13.87 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $28,460$13.68 an hour | $30,200$14.52 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $32,020$15.39 an hour | $34,430$16.55 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $34,880$16.77 an hour | $36,070$17.34 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $36,960$17.77 an hour | $39,020$18.76 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Fort Smith area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Fort Smith
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Fort Smith area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Fort Smith was $20,210 a year. By 2025 it had reached $32,020, a change of +58%, compared with +59% for Arkansas over the same years.
How Fort Smith compares with other Arkansas cities
Fayetteville pays CNAs the most in Arkansas at $35,820 a year, $3,800 more than Fort Smith. The lowest-paying area in the state is Hot Springs at $29,940.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Fort Smith | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville metro incl. Springdale · Rogers | $35,820 | $17.22 | +12% | 2,320 |
| 2 | Conway metro incl. Little Rock · North Little Rock | $35,370 | $17.00 | +10% | 5,250 |
| 3 | Jonesboro | $35,210 | $16.93 | +10% | 1,050 |
| 4 | Fort Smith | $32,020 | $15.39 | this city | 1,580 |
| 5 | Hot Springs | $29,940 | $14.39 | -6% | 810 |
Every metro area in Arkansas with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Arkansas typical pay $34,430
Is Fort Smith a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Fort Smith earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $32,020 a year, 24% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Fort Smith area, about 17 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Fort Smith, AR?
- A typical CNA in Fort Smith earns $32,020 a year, or $15.39 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $25,040 and the top 10% earn over $36,960.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Fort Smith?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Fort Smith is $15.39. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $12.04, and the top 10% earn over $17.77 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Fort Smith?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Fort Smith typically offer around $12.04 an hour, or $25,040 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Fort Smith higher than in the rest of Arkansas?
- Fort Smith pay is 7% below the Arkansas figure of $34,430 a year, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state. Fayetteville pays the most in Arkansas at $35,820.