Arkansas Minimum Wage 2026
$11.00
per hour since January 1, 2021
Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2021. No increase to the Arkansas minimum wage is scheduled for 2027.
Reviewed by Slava Akulov, CEO & Co-Founder at Jupid · Last updated: October 2026
Up to 40. Hours over 40 in a workweek go in the overtime field.
Paid at 1.5 times the rate ($16.50 an hour).
Weekly
$440
Monthly (average)
$1,907
Annual
$22,880
Gross pay before taxes. For take-home pay after federal, state and payroll taxes, use the Arkansas hourly paycheck calculator.
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Arkansas Minimum Wage at a Glance
2026 minimum wage
$11.00
Since January 1, 2021
Tipped cash wage
$2.63
Tip credit up to $8.37
Next change
None scheduled
No law scheduled
Overtime
Weekly
1.5 times the regular rate
Applies to employers with 4 or more employees; an employer covered by both the Arkansas law and the FLSA pays the higher rate.
Local Minimum Wages in Arkansas
State law bars cities and counties from requiring a minimum wage above state or federal law.
Tipped Minimum Wage in Arkansas
Employers in Arkansas can pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.63 an hour and count up to $8.37 an hour of tips toward the $11.00 minimum. If tips fall short, the employer makes up the difference. Customarily tipped jobs such as waiters, bellhops and barbers qualify, and other jobs count when the employee receives more than $20 a month in tips.
Cash wage
$2.63
Maximum tip credit
$8.37
Cash wage plus tips must reach
$11.00
Other Arkansas Minimum Wage Rates
- Full-time students with a Division of Labor certificate: $9.35. 85% of the minimum wage, up to 20 hours a week while school is in session
Overtime Rules in Arkansas
Overtime is due after 40 hours in a workweek. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times the regular rate, so at the $11.00 minimum an overtime hour pays at least $16.50. To work out overtime on any hourly rate, use the overtime pay calculator.
Arkansas Minimum Wage History
| Effective | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2021 (current) | $11.00 |
| January 1, 2020 | $10.00 |
| January 1, 2019 | $9.25 |
| January 1, 2017 | $8.50 |
Arkansas Minimum Wage in 2027
No increase to the Arkansas minimum wage is scheduled for 2027. The $11.00 rate from the 2018 ballot measure is not indexed, and nothing on the November 3, 2026 ballot concerns wages.
Arkansas Minimum Wage FAQ
More Pay Tools for Arkansas
Arkansas Hourly Paycheck Calculator
Take-home pay for hourly work, with overtime and taxes.
Arkansas Paycheck Calculator
Salary take-home pay after federal and state taxes.
Overtime Pay Calculator
Time-and-a-half and double-time pay for any rate.
Employee Cost Calculator
What an hourly hire costs with payroll taxes added.
Minimum Wage in Other States
State minimum wages range from the federal $7.25 to $18.40 an hour in 2026. Pick a state to see its rate, tipped wage and 2027 change.
Official References
- Arkansas Division of Labor, Minimum Wage and Overtime
- Arkansas Initiated Act (Issue 5, 2018), full text
- Arkansas Minimum Wage Rules, 11 CAR Pt. 11
- Arkansas Secretary of State, Initiatives and Referenda
- UA Cooperative Extension, 2026 Arkansas Ballot Issues Voter Guide (issue titles)
- Ark. Code 11-4-222 (2025, Justia)
- Act 643 of 2017 (SB 668)
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees
Rates verified against the sources above on October 30, 2026. The calculator shows gross pay only. Industry rates, exemptions and local ordinances can change during the year; check the agency page before setting pay. This page is general information, not legal advice.
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