How Much Does an EMT Make in Arkansas in 2026?

A typical EMT in Arkansas earns about $17.42 per hour, or $36,230 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $3,019 a month or $697 a week, both figures calculated from the annual number. Pay varies by city and experience, but this figure gives a solid baseline for the state.

That figure sits 19% below the national typical pay of $21.38 an hour, or $44,470 a year, for EMTs. Arkansas ranks 46th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia for EMT pay. About 1,120 people work as EMTs across the state, a modest workforce that still keeps ambulances staffed in cities and rural counties alike. Lower pay in Arkansas tracks the state's lower cost of living compared with much of the country.

Entry-level positions in Arkansas typically offer around $13.64 an hour, or about $28,370 a year, for EMTs just starting out. Most newcomers begin near this range while completing required training and building field experience. Pay typically moves toward the statewide typical figure of $17.42 an hour within the first few years on the job. Rural placements and smaller ambulance services often start closer to this lower figure.

Experienced EMTs in Arkansas often earn upwards of $20.04 an hour, close to pay in the state's higher-paying cities. The top 10% of earners make over $24.00 an hour, or $49,910 a year. That leaves a spread of $21,540 between the entry-level and top-earning figures. Setting, years of experience, and city location typically explain most of that gap, with hospital-based and metro-area roles often paying more than rural ambulance services.

Arkansas EMT pay rose from $28,340 in 2021 to $36,230 in 2025, a gain of $7,890. That amounts to a 28% increase over five years, according to the same government wage data. Pay didn't move in a straight line: it dipped slightly in 2024 before climbing again in 2025. Even with that dip, the overall trend is a steady climb across the years covered.

Nationally, EMT pay rose about 25% over the same stretch, so Arkansas's gain slightly outpaced the country as a whole. Someone starting as an EMT in Arkansas today is entering the field after several years of rising pay, though nothing guarantees that pattern continues. Past growth is not a promise of future raises, but it does show a track record of pay moving upward rather than standing still.

EMT pay runs highest in the Fayetteville metro area, where the typical figure reaches $41,670 a year, or $20.04 an hour, about 15% above the statewide figure. Springdale and Rogers, part of the same northwest Arkansas metro region, post identical figures. All three cover their full metro areas rather than city limits alone.

Jonesboro posts the lowest figure among Arkansas's ranked metro areas, at $34,680 a year, or $16.68 an hour, a spread of $6,990 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities. Conway carries the largest EMT workforce in the state at 240 workers, earning $37,530 a year, or $18.04 an hour, matching pay in Little Rock and North Little Rock. These gaps generally track differences in local living costs rather than anything else about the job itself.

Arkansas EMTs generally earn less than their counterparts in nearby states. Missouri pays the most among neighbors at $42,160 a year, 16% higher than Arkansas, and Tennessee follows at $40,330, about 11% higher. Oklahoma pays less, at $34,170, roughly 6% below Arkansas's figure. Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana land close to Arkansas's own pay. EMT certification earned in Arkansas can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary by state.

Arkansas EMTs typically earn $36,230 a year, or $17.42 an hour, based on the latest wage data (May 2025), up $7,890 over the past five years. That is a real gain, even though the state still trails the national figure. Readers weighing this career should check Arkansas's EMT licensing and registry requirements for certification steps, and look at city-level pages for local pay figures before choosing where to work.