Salary Guide · 2026
Arkansas Salary Guide (2026)
This guide explains how salaries are taxed in Arkansas, what take-home pay looks like at different income levels, and how cost of living affects real purchasing power across major cities.
Arkansas Income Snapshot
Individual median income
$31,200
-44% vs US median
Household median income
$52,528
US Census ACS 2023
Median take-home (annual)
$25,880
Eff. rate: 17.05%
Median monthly take-home
$2,157
Single filer, 2026
Income Tax Structure in Arkansas
Tax system: Progressive state income tax (2%–4.9%)
Arkansas has a moderate progressive income tax and a very low cost of living. This combination makes take-home pay stretch further than in high-tax, high-cost states.
Take-Home Pay at Popular Salary Levels
Single filer · Standard deduction · AR state tax · 2026 IRS brackets
| Gross salary | Federal tax | State tax | FICA | Take-home | Monthly | Eff. rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $45,000 | $3,294 | $1,945 | $3,443 | $36,318 | $3,027 | 19.29% |
| $70,000 | $6,754 | $3,120 | $5,355 | $54,771 | $4,564 | 21.76% |
| $95,000 | $12,254 | $4,295 | $7,268 | $71,183 | $5,932 | 25.07% |
| $140,000 | $22,514 | $6,410 | $10,710 | $100,366 | $8,364 | 28.31% |
Take-home as % of gross
Housing Affordability in Arkansas Cities
Based on $95,000 salary · Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · COL: C2ER/ACCRA
Little Rock
COL: 0.83× · 1BR rent: $900/mo
Rent burden: 15.2% of take-home
Is $95,000 enough in Little Rock? →Fort Smith
COL: 0.77× · 1BR rent: $780/mo
Rent burden: 13.1% of take-home
Is $95,000 enough in Fort Smith? →Fayetteville
COL: 0.91× · 1BR rent: $1,050/mo
Rent burden: 17.7% of take-home
Is $95,000 enough in Fayetteville? →Springdale
COL: 0.89× · 1BR rent: $1,020/mo
Rent burden: 17.2% of take-home
Is $95,000 enough in Springdale? →Jonesboro
COL: 0.80× · 1BR rent: $850/mo
Rent burden: 14.3% of take-home
Is $95,000 enough in Jonesboro? →Popular Salary Guides for Arkansas
Is This Salary Enough in Arkansas?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is $100,000 a good salary in Arkansas?
A $100,000 salary in Arkansas yields approximately $74,466 per year ($6,206/month) after federal and state taxes. In most Arkansas cities, this is above the state individual median of $31,200 — generally a comfortable income.
How much state income tax do you pay in Arkansas?
Arkansas has Progressive state income tax (2%–4.9%). For a $70,000 salary, the estimated state income tax is $3,120. Your effective rate depends on your income level, filing status, and deductions.
What salary is considered middle class in Arkansas?
The individual median income in Arkansas is $31,200 and the household median is $52,528 (Census ACS 2023). Middle-class income typically ranges from 67%–200% of the household median, roughly $35,194–$105,056 for a family.
Data Sources
- •Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
- •Payroll taxes: Social Security Administration
- •Salary data: Bureau of Labor Statistics
- •Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
Data updated monthly using government datasets.