Minimum wage in Arkansas in 2027
$11.00 per hour1
per hourGeneral rate from January 1, 2021
Year 2027
Rates in force during 2027
| Applies to | Rate | Effective | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
4+ employeesSource: Ark. Code Ann. § 11-4-210Effective January 1, 2021, the minimum wage in Arkansas is $11.00 per hour. The Arkansas Minimum Wage Act covers employers with 4 or more employees.
Verified September 26, 2026 | $11.00January 1, 2021 – current | January 1, 2021 | current |
2 rates in force
Rates by worker type, industry and employer size
The highest rate that fits the job applies.
| Applies to | Rate | Cash wage | Max tip credit | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
4+ employeesSource: Ark. Code Ann. § 11-4-210Effective January 1, 2021, the minimum wage in Arkansas is $11.00 per hour. The Arkansas Minimum Wage Act covers employers with 4 or more employees.
Verified September 26, 2026 | $11.00January 1, 2021 | — | — | January 1, 2021 |
Tipped employees · 4+ employees · receives tipsSource: Ark. Code Ann. § 11-4-210Effective January 1, 2021, the minimum wage in Arkansas is $11.00 per hour. The Arkansas Minimum Wage Act covers employers with 4 or more employees. Employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are also covered by the Arkansas law if they have 4 or more employees. An employer covered by both laws must pay the highest minimum wage. In most cases, an employer has to pay overtime (one and one-half times the regular rate of pay) to non-exempt employees for all hours actually worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek. This means that you may work more than 8 hours in a day or work more than a regularly scheduled shift, and still not exceed 40 hours of actual work in a workweek. If your employer pays you for hours not actually worked, such as for a holiday or a sick day, then those hours do not count as hours actually worked for the purpose of state and federal overtime law. Tipped Employees Tipped employees must be paid at least $2.63 per hour. The tips they earn must be enough to bring them up to the applicable minimum wage per hour.
Verified September 26, 2026 | $11.00January 1, 2021 | $2.63 | — | January 1, 2021 |
2015 to 2026
History
Each step is a rate row with its own quoted source.
Show the history as a table
| Applies to | Rate | Effective | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
4+ employeesSource: Ark. Code Ann. § 11-4-210(a) as amended by Initiated Act 2018, Issue No. 5(2)(A) Beginning January 1, 2015, every employer shall pay each of his or her employees wages at the rate of not less than seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per hour, beginning January 1, 2016 the rate of not less than eight dollars ($8.00) per hour and beginning January 1, 2017 the rate of not less than eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50) per hour except as otherwise provided in this subchapter.
Verified September 26, 2026 | $8.50January 1, 2017 – January 1, 2019 | January 1, 2017 | January 1, 2019 |
4+ employeesSource: Ark. Code Ann. § 11-4-210(a) as amended by Initiated Act 2018, Issue No. 5(2)(A) Beginning January 1, 2015, every employer shall pay each of his or her employees wages at the rate of not less than seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per hour, beginning January 1, 2016 the rate of not less than eight dollars ($8.00) per hour and beginning January 1, 2017 the rate of not less than eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50) per hour except as otherwise provided in this subchapter.
Verified September 26, 2026 | $8.00January 1, 2016 – January 1, 2017 | January 1, 2016 | January 1, 2017 |
4+ employeesSource: Ark. Code Ann. § 11-4-210(a) as amended by Initiated Act 2018, Issue No. 5(2)(A) Beginning January 1, 2015, every employer shall pay each of his or her employees wages at the rate of not less than seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per hour, beginning January 1, 2016 the rate of not less than eight dollars ($8.00) per hour and beginning January 1, 2017 the rate of not less than eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50) per hour except as otherwise provided in this subchapter.
Verified September 26, 2026 | $7.50January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2016 | January 1, 2015 | January 1, 2016 |
Earlier rules by employer size, worker type and condition (3)
| Applies to | Rate | Effective | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
4+ employeesSource: Ark. Code Ann. § 11-4-210(a) as amended by Initiated Act 2018, Issue No. 5(2)(A) Beginning January 1, 2015, every employer shall pay each of his or her employees wages at the rate of not less than seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per hour, beginning January 1, 2016 the rate of not less than eight dollars ($8.00) per hour and beginning January 1, 2017 the rate of not less than eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50) per hour except as otherwise provided in this subchapter.
Verified September 26, 2026 | $8.50January 1, 2017 – January 1, 2019 | January 1, 2017 | January 1, 2019 |
4+ employeesSource: Ark. Code Ann. § 11-4-210(a) as amended by Initiated Act 2018, Issue No. 5(2)(A) Beginning January 1, 2015, every employer shall pay each of his or her employees wages at the rate of not less than seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per hour, beginning January 1, 2016 the rate of not less than eight dollars ($8.00) per hour and beginning January 1, 2017 the rate of not less than eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50) per hour except as otherwise provided in this subchapter.
Verified September 26, 2026 | $8.00January 1, 2016 – January 1, 2017 | January 1, 2016 | January 1, 2017 |
4+ employeesSource: Ark. Code Ann. § 11-4-210(a) as amended by Initiated Act 2018, Issue No. 5(2)(A) Beginning January 1, 2015, every employer shall pay each of his or her employees wages at the rate of not less than seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per hour, beginning January 1, 2016 the rate of not less than eight dollars ($8.00) per hour and beginning January 1, 2017 the rate of not less than eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50) per hour except as otherwise provided in this subchapter.
Verified September 26, 2026 | $7.50January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2016 | January 1, 2015 | January 1, 2016 |
BLS · May 2025
How the minimum compares with typical pay in Arkansas
52%of the median hourly wage
The median hourly wage across all occupations in Arkansas is $20.98 and the mean is $26.39 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates). The minimum wage of $11.00 is 52% of the median; the 10th-percentile wage is $12.99, so roughly the lowest-paid tenth of workers earn within $1.99 of the minimum. BLS
| Applies to | Rate |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $11.00 |
| 10th percentile | $12.99 |
| 25th percentile | $15.33 |
| Median | $20.98 |
| Mean | $26.39 |
6 rules · September 27, 2026
Labor law basics in Arkansas
What the law adds on top of the hourly rate. Follow the citation for exceptions.
Overtime
Non-exempt employees must generally be paid 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek; working over 8 hours in a day does not by itself earn overtime. (employers with 4 or more employees)
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 11-4-210
In most cases, an employer has to pay overtime (one and one-half times the regular rate of pay) to non-exempt employees for all hours actually worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek. This means that you may work more than 8 hours in a day or work more than a regularly scheduled shift, and still not exceed 40 hours
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Tips
Tipped employees must be paid at least $2.63 an hour in cash wages, and the employer must make up the difference if tips do not bring them to the minimum wage.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 11-4-210
Tipped employees must be paid at least $2.63 per hour. The tips they earn must be enough to bring them up to the applicable minimum wage per hour. If the tips do not bring them up to minimum wage, the employer must add enough to their pay to do so. It is the employer’s responsibility to keep accurate tip records.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Young workers' hours
Children under 16 may not work more than 48 hours a week or 8 hours a day, or before 6 a.m. or after 7 p.m. (9 p.m. before non-school days).
Source
Limitations on hours of work for a child under sixteen (16): A child under sixteen (16) cannot be employed: More than six days in any week More than forty-eight hours in any week More than eight hours in any day Before 6:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m., except that on nights preceding non school days, they may work until 9:00 p.m.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Recovering unpaid wages
Workers owed $2,000 or less who earn no more than $50,000 a year can file a wage claim with the Labor Standards Section, which investigates and can take legal action to collect the back wages.
Source
The Labor Standards Section is responsible for investigating wage claims filed by workers who are owed $2000 or less. It does not matter if the worker was an employee or an independent contractor who physically performed the work. Both are covered by the wage claim law. If after investigation the wage claim is determined to be valid, the Division of Labor is authorized to take legal action to collect the back wages. These claims typically involve last paycheck issues, and may involve commissions, vacation pay, bonuses, or unauthorized deductions. You are not eligible to file a wage claim if: *the amount in dispute is more than $2000; or *you make more than $50,000 per year.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Overtime-exempt salary threshold
Executive, administrative and professional employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime only if they meet the duties tests and are paid a salary of at least $684 per week ($35,568 a year). (executive, administrative, professional and outside sales employees)
Source: 29 C.F.R. Part 541
To qualify for exemption, employees generally must meet certain tests regarding their job duties and be paid on a salary basis at not less than $684 per week.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- The 2024 rule raising the level to $844/$1,128 was vacated in November 2024; DOL enforces the 2019 level of $684.
Verified September 26, 2026
Required poster
Employers whose employees are covered by the FLSA minimum wage provisions must post, and keep posted, a notice explaining the Act in a conspicuous place in all of their establishments. (employers covered by the FLSA)
Source: 29 U.S.C. § 207
Every employer of employees subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage provisions must post, and keep posted, a notice explaining the Act in a conspicuous place in all of their establishments.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- The notice DOL publishes for this purpose is the FLSA minimum wage poster (WH-1088), free from the WHD posters page.
Verified September 26, 2026
$11.00 / hour
Calculators
Estimates before tax at this rate. Nothing you type leaves this page.
What this wage pays
| Weekly | $440.00 |
|---|---|
| Monthly52 weeks ÷ 12 | $1,906.67 |
| Annual52 weeks | $22,880.00 |
| Overtime rate1.5× where overtime applies | $16.50 |
4 questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Arkansas in 2027?
$11.00 per hour since January 1, 2021. For a 40-hour week that is about $440.00 a week or $22,880.00 a year before tax.
Is the minimum wage in Arkansas increasing?
No increase is scheduled on record as of October 1, 2026. Inflation-indexed jurisdictions announce the next figure a few months before it takes effect.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Arkansas?
Employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.63 per hour as long as tips bring them to $11.00.
How does Arkansas compare with other states?
Arkansas's $11.00 ranks 28 of 51 state general rates, against a federal floor of $7.25.
2 levels of law
How this rate is resolved
The highest minimum that covers the work location applies.
Employers must pay the highest minimum that covers the work location. WageTable checks each level in turn:
- United States
- Arkansas
Arkansas sets 2 rules of its own.
Notes on this jurisdiction's rules and sources
The Arkansas Minimum Wage Act covers employers with 4 or more employees (rows use employer_size_min 4). Rates since 2015 were set by voter-initiated acts (2014 Issue 5 and 2018 Issue 5), basis ballot_measure. The earlier $6.25 state rate (from October 1, 2006) was below the federal rate from 2008 and is not published. Students may be paid a reduced rate on application to the Department; no figure published.
Arkansas
Enforcement
Enforced by Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Labor Standards Division. Employers must display the official minimum wage poster.
Underpaid?File a wage claim