How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Arkansas in 2026?

A typical Surgical Tech in Arkansas earns about $27.60 per hour ($57,400 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $4,783 a month or $1,104 a week, based on the annual figure. These figures cover the full range of settings where Surgical Techs work across the state, from hospital operating rooms to outpatient surgery centers.

That pay sits 11% below the national figure of $64,650 for Surgical Techs, according to the same May 2025 data. Arkansas ranks 46th out of 51 states and territories on this measure. About 1,640 Surgical Techs work in the state, giving these figures scale. Lower pay in Arkansas tends to track the state's lower cost of living relative to higher-paying states.

Entry-level positions in Arkansas typically offer around $18.63 an hour, or about $38,750 a year. That figure sits well below the state's typical pay of $27.60 an hour. New Surgical Techs usually start near this level and see pay move upward within a few years of experience. Most of that increase comes early in a career, as techs gain hands-on time in the operating room.

Experienced Surgical Techs in Arkansas often earn upwards of $30.48 an hour, or around $63,400 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $75,460 a year, well above what entry-level workers see. That puts the entry-to-top spread at $36,710. Setting, years of experience, and which city a Surgical Tech works in all play into where someone lands within that range.

Arkansas Surgical Tech pay has climbed steadily over the past decade. In 2015, typical pay stood at $38,680 a year; by 2025 it reached $57,400, a gain of $18,720. That amounts to a 48% rise over ten years.

Nationally, Surgical Tech pay rose 46% over the same decade, so Arkansas's climb has kept pace with the national trend. Pay has moved up steadily for a decade in Arkansas, a pattern that reflects what already happened rather than a guarantee about what comes next. Someone starting out now enters a field where pay has trended upward for ten straight years.

Pay runs highest in Fort Smith, where Surgical Techs typically earn $61,890 a year ($29.76 an hour), about 8% above the state figure. Fayetteville, Springdale, and Rogers follow closely behind, each at $61,080 a year ($29.36 an hour). These figures reflect each city's full metro area rather than just the city itself. Pay across Arkansas's larger metro areas clusters within a few thousand dollars of each other.

Jonesboro pays the least among Arkansas cities tracked, at $49,590 a year ($23.84 an hour), putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities at $12,300. Conway, Little Rock, and North Little Rock together hold the largest Surgical Tech workforce in the state, with 640 workers and pay at $60,910 a year. Cities with lower pay in Arkansas typically also carry a lower cost of living.

Among neighboring states, Texas pays Surgical Techs the most, at $65,220 a year, about 14% above Arkansas. Oklahoma ($61,190) and Missouri ($61,120) also pay more, each around 6-7% higher. Tennessee runs 5% higher at $60,530, while Louisiana is about even at $57,370. Mississippi pays less, at $49,810, about 13% below Arkansas. Surgical Tech licensure or certification earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state.

Surgical Techs in Arkansas typically earn $57,400 a year ($27.60 an hour), a figure that has risen 48% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience, with entry-level positions starting lower and experienced techs earning well above the state figure. Readers weighing a move or a new role should check Arkansas's surgical technologist licensing or registry requirements and review city-level pages for local pay figures.