How Much Does an LPN Make in Fort Smith, AR in 2026?
Typical pay for LPNs 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 LPN in Fort Smith, Arkansas earns $26.86 per hour, or $55,880 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,657 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,950, and the top 10% of earners make over $61,140.
That pay is 1% below the Arkansas figure of $56,620 and 13% below the national figure of $64,400. Fort Smith ranks 4th of 5 metro areas in Arkansas for LPN pay. About 960 LPNs work in the Fort Smith area.
LPN pay in Fort Smith at a glance
- Typical pay is $26.86 an hour, or $55,880 a year.
- That is 1% below the Arkansas figure, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,950; the top 10% make over $61,140.
- Typical pay rose +59% from 2015 to 2025, against +57% for Arkansas as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an LPN make in Fort Smith?
Pay in Fort Smith runs from entry-level positions at around $23.06 an hour to more than $29.39 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Arkansas and national figures.
LPN pay by career stage in Fort Smith
| Career stage | Fort Smith | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $47,950$23.06 an hour | $44,670$21.48 an hour | $49,740$23.91 an hour |
| First years | $50,550$24.31 an hour | $49,550$23.82 an hour | $59,000$28.37 an hour |
| Typical LPN | $55,880$26.86 an hour | $56,620$27.22 an hour | $64,400$30.96 an hour |
| Experienced | $59,600$28.66 an hour | $61,220$29.43 an hour | $76,030$36.55 an hour |
| Top 10% | $61,140$29.39 an hour | $65,020$31.26 an hour | $83,440$40.12 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Fort Smith area as BLS defines it
LPN pay growth in Fort Smith
Typical (median) annual wage for LPNs in the Fort Smith area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical LPN pay in Fort Smith was $35,150 a year. By 2025 it had reached $55,880, a change of +59%, compared with +57% for Arkansas over the same years.
How Fort Smith compares with other Arkansas cities
Fayetteville pays LPNs the most in Arkansas at $61,970 a year, $6,090 more than Fort Smith. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jonesboro at $50,980.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Fort Smith | LPNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville metro incl. Springdale · Rogers | $61,970 | $29.79 | +11% | 1,270 |
| 2 | Conway metro incl. Little Rock · North Little Rock | $59,240 | $28.48 | +6% | 2,470 |
| 3 | Hot Springs | $56,120 | $26.98 | 0% | 410 |
| 4 | Fort Smith | $55,880 | $26.86 | this city | 960 |
| 5 | Jonesboro | $50,980 | $24.51 | -9% | 630 |
Every metro area in Arkansas with LPN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Arkansas typical pay $56,620
Is Fort Smith a good place to work as an LPN?
LPNs in Fort Smith earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $55,880 a year, 13% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Fort Smith area, about 10 are LPN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 4.2. That makes the local economy more reliant on LPNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an LPN make in Fort Smith, AR?
- A typical LPN in Fort Smith earns $55,880 a year, or $26.86 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $47,950 and the top 10% earn over $61,140.
- How much does an LPN make an hour in Fort Smith?
- Typical hourly pay for LPNs in Fort Smith is $26.86. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.06, and the top 10% earn over $29.39 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an LPN in Fort Smith?
- Entry-level LPN positions in Fort Smith typically offer around $23.06 an hour, or $47,950 a year.
- Is LPN pay in Fort Smith higher than in the rest of Arkansas?
- Fort Smith pay is 1% below the Arkansas figure of $56,620 a year, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state. Fayetteville pays the most in Arkansas at $61,970.