How Much Does an RN Make in Arkansas in 2026?

A typical registered nurse in Arkansas earns about $37.95 per hour, which works out to $78,940 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that pay comes to roughly $6,578 a month and $1,518 a week, both figures calculated from the annual figure. These numbers describe typical RN pay across the state, not a guaranteed starting wage.

That pay sits 19% below the national figure of $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour), placing Arkansas 47th out of 51 states and territories ranked. Lower pay in Arkansas often tracks a lower cost of living compared with higher-cost states. Around 29,400 RNs work across the state, giving a sense of scale for how widely this pay figure applies.

Entry-level positions in Arkansas typically offer around $29.22 an hour, or about $60,780 a year, for RNs just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $78,940 a year within the first several years on the job. New graduates and those in their first roles should expect pay toward the lower end of this range at first.

Experienced RNs in Arkansas often earn upwards of $43.40 an hour, or about $90,280 a year, once they've built a track record in the field. The top 10% of earners make over $49.84 an hour, or $103,660 a year, a gap of $42,880 from the entry-level figure. Setting, specialty, and city tend to separate the higher earners from those just starting out.

Arkansas RN pay rose from $55,660 in 2015 to $78,940 in 2025, a gain of $23,280 over the decade. That amounts to a 42% rise in pay over ten years for registered nurses across the state. The increase has been steady, with pay climbing in nearly every year of the past decade.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years, a slightly faster pace than Arkansas saw. Pay for Arkansas RNs has moved up steadily and shows no sign of reversing course. Someone starting a nursing career in Arkansas today enters a field where pay has climbed year after year, though future gains are not guaranteed.

RN pay runs highest in Conway, where the typical figure reaches $81,070 a year, about 3% above the statewide figure. This figure covers the full Conway metro area, not just the city itself. Fort Smith follows closely at $79,870 a year, and Jonesboro sits right at the state figure of $78,940.

Springdale pays the least among Arkansas's tracked cities, at $77,910 a year, putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities at $3,160. Conway also carries the largest RN workforce in the state, with about 11,550 nurses employed there. That gap is modest compared with other states, and it usually reflects differences in local living costs rather than anything else.

Among neighboring states, Texas pays the most, at $95,970 a year (22% higher), followed by Oklahoma at $82,920 (5% higher), Missouri at $81,780 (4% higher), Tennessee at $81,500 (3% higher), and Louisiana at $80,230 (2% higher). Mississippi is the only neighbor that pays less, at $77,090 a year (2% lower). RN licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, making moves across state lines a practical option for those chasing higher pay.

Registered nurses in Arkansas typically earn $78,940 a year, or $37.95 an hour, a figure that has climbed 42% over the past decade. Pay varies modestly by city and rises with experience, from around $60,780 for entry-level roles to over $103,660 for the top 10% of earners. Readers considering a nursing career in Arkansas can check the state licensing and registry page for requirements, and the city pages for local pay figures.