Nurse practitioner salary in Arkansas
Arkansas nurse practitioners earn a median of $125,660 a year ($60.41 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 5% below the national median of $132,300, and ranks 44th of 51 states.
Median, Arkansas
$125,660
Mean $130,260
Middle half earns
$105,450 to $137,550
US: $117,990 to $156,700
Employed in Arkansas
3,970
1.47x the national concentration
Where Arkansas sits in the range
Arkansas
Statewide
United States
National
Memphis
Metro area
Little Rock
Metro area
Fayetteville
Metro area
Jonesboro
Metro area
Nurse practitioner pay by percentile
Ten percent of Arkansas nurse practitioners earned less than $99,420 and ten percent earned more than $205,810, a spread of $106,390. Where you land depends mostly on specialty, setting, experience and how the productivity pay is built, which is why two offers in the same city can be far apart.
| Percentile | Arkansas | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $99,420 | $101,340 | -1.9% |
| 25th | $105,450 | $117,990 | -10.6% |
| Median | $125,660 | $132,300 | -5.0% |
| 75th | $137,550 | $156,700 | -12.2% |
| 90th | $205,810 | $174,420 | +18.0% |
Nurse practitioner pay by metro area
BLS published NP pay for 7 metro areas that include part of Arkansas. Fort Smith, AR-OK has the highest median at $129,270. Metro estimates rest on smaller samples than the statewide figure, so treat a low-precision row as a direction, not a number.
| Metro area | Employed | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 1,800 | $124,600 | $106,670 to $134,300 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 1,360 | $126,680 | $107,600 to $149,850 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 600 | $127,380 | $107,340 to $148,840 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 280 | $126,760 | $106,140 to $144,790 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OKmoderate precision | 270 | $129,270 | $109,590 to $145,600 |
| Hot Springs, ARmoderate precision | 210 | $122,940 | $102,030 to $168,150 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 150 | $127,920 | $103,490 to $151,900 |
How NP pay compares with other clinicians in Arkansas
| Occupation | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse practitioner | $125,660 | $132,300 |
| Physician assistant | $118,430 | $135,880 |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $224,280 | $236,590 |
| Registered nurse | $78,940 | $97,550 |
The Arkansas NP workforce
BLS counts 3,970 nurse practitioners on Arkansas payrolls, or 3.04 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, more concentrated than in the country as a whole. The federal NPI registry, which also counts self-employed and part-time clinicians, lists 4,870 nurse practitioners with a Arkansas practice address, and 260 new NP NPIs there in the past twelve months.
Using these numbers when you negotiate
A state median is a reference point, not a target. If an offer comes in under $105,450, it sits in the bottom quarter of what Arkansas nurse practitioners earn, and you should know why before you sign: a new-grad rate, a light schedule, or a base kept low because a productivity bonus is supposed to make up the difference. If it is above $137,550, ask what is expected in return, such as call, volume targets or a longer non-compete.
Compare the whole package, not the base: how the bonus is calculated, call pay, CME, PTO and who pays malpractice tail coverage. The negotiation guide and the contract checklist walk through each term.
Questions about NP pay in Arkansas
How much does a NP make in Arkansas?
The median annual wage for nurse practitioners in Arkansas was $125,660 in May 2025, and the mean was $130,260, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $105,450 and $137,550.
What is the hourly rate for nurse practitioners in Arkansas?
The median hourly wage was $60.41 and the mean was $62.63. BLS computes hourly figures from annual pay assuming a full-time year, so per-shift or per-diem rates can differ.
Where do NPs earn the most in Arkansas?
Among Arkansas metro areas with published data, Fort Smith, AR-OK had the highest median at $129,270, and Hot Springs, AR the lowest at $122,940.
How does Arkansas rank for NP pay?
Arkansas ranks 44th of 51 states (including DC) by median NP pay, 5% below the national median of $132,300. Pay is only half the picture: compare it with what housing and taxes cost where you would live.
How many nurse practitioners work in Arkansas?
BLS estimated 3,970 nurse practitioners employed in Arkansas in May 2025. The federal NPI registry lists 4,870 with a Arkansas practice address.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (bls.gov/oes), SOC 29-1171, all industries and ownerships. NPI counts: NPPES monthly file, August 2026 (CMS, public domain). BLS wages are straight-time pay: they include production bonuses but leave out overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits, and they exclude the self-employed.
Have an offer on the table?
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