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DATA PROFILE · 2025

Registered Nurses salary in Arkansas

Slowingmarket
-55%offers
0%wages
heat28/100

Median, range, employment, and 10-year outlook from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, with skills and task data from O*NET. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities.

Adrian Serafin, founder and editor of RateOrchardBy Adrian SerafinFounderUpdated June 12, 2026
Last refreshed: Jun 12, 2026

Registered Nurses in Arkansas. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →

Median annual$78,940
Mean annual$81,520
Range (10th to 90th)$60,780 to $103,660
Arkansas employment29,400
State vs national-19.7% vs national
Editorial commentary

What the numbers say

Registered Nurses in Arkansas earned a median wage of $77,130 in 2024, about 18% below the US median of $94,511. That gap is real, but it does not tell the whole story.

Arkansas has a cost-of-living index of 88.3, meaning everyday expenses run roughly 12% below the national average. After accounting for what the money actually buys, the effective gap narrows to closer to 7%. A nurse relocating from a high-cost state will feel that difference less than the headline number suggests.

The spread between bottom and top earners is meaningful. Nurses at the 10th percentile earned $57,380 in 2024. Those at the 90th percentile earned $99,960, about 74% more. That range reflects the difference between new graduates in general medical-surgical roles and experienced nurses in specialty or supervisory positions. The 25th-to-75th-percentile band runs from $65,450 to $84,720, so most working nurses in the state landed in that narrower middle range.

BLS projects employment for Registered Nurses to grow 4.9% between 2024 and 2034, an average rate of change. With 28,320 nurses currently employed in Arkansas, even modest percentage growth translates to a steady stream of openings over the decade, both from expansion and from retirement-driven turnover in what is already a large occupation in the state.

Methodology. Drafted with AI assistance using Anthropic Claude, reviewed by Adrian Serafin against BLS, O*NET, and BEA source data. No fact appears that does not exist in the cited public datasets.

Salary distribution

Where Arkansas registered nurses fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

10TH$60,78025TH$66,640MEDIAN$78,94075TH$90,28090TH$103,660

The middle 50% of workers earn between $66,640 and $90,280, with a median of $78,940.

Real disclosed salaries

Registered Nurses in Arkansas: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 17 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $66,560. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.

By DOL wage level

DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.

LevelFilingsMedian offer
Level I — entry3$64,480
Level II — qualified14$66,560

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Registered Nurses in Arkansas. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

EmployerMost-filed titleFilingsMedian
Management Health Systems, LLCRegistered Nurse “ Float13$66,560
White River Health System IncRegistered Nurse2$64,480
University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesClinical Specialist1$82,619
White River Health System Inc.Registered Nurse1$65,374

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

  • Registered Nurse - Float at Management Health Systems, LLC
    $66,560
    SearcyWage Level IIDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-684713
  • Registered Nurse at White River Health System Inc
    $64,480
    BatesvilleWage Level IDecided Aug 20, 2025I-200-25225-238738
  • Registered Nurse at White River Health System Inc.
    $65,374
    BatesvilleWage Level IIDecided Aug 19, 2025I-200-25224-237349
  • Clinical Specialist at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
    $82,619
    Little RockWage Level IDecided Feb 7, 2025I-200-25031-658599
  • Registered Nurse - Float at Management Health Systems, LLC
    $66,560
    SearcyWage Level IIDecided Mar 12, 2026I-200-26064-683683
  • Registered Nurse - Float at Management Health Systems, LLC
    $66,560
    SearcyWage Level IIDecided Feb 17, 2026I-200-26040-628780
  • Registered Nurse - Float at Management Health Systems, LLC
    $72,800
    SearcyWage Level IIDecided Jan 28, 2026I-200-26021-577277
  • Registered Nurse - Float at Management Health Systems, LLC
    $72,800
    SearcyWage Level IIDecided Jan 22, 2026I-200-26014-559618

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.

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By seniority

Registered Nurses pay by experience level in Arkansas

Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.

Specialties

Registered Nurses specialties in Arkansas

Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 16 certified offers. The most common variant is Registered Nurse “ Float at a median of $66,560.

SpecialtyTop employerFilingsMedian offer
Registered Nurse “ FloatManagement Health Systems, LLC13$66,560
Registered NurseWhite River Health System Inc3$64,480

Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.

Pay by industry

Registered Nurses in Arkansas, by industry

Median offered wage across 17 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $66,560.

IndustryLargest employerFilingsMedian offer
Professional servicesManagement Health Systems, LLC13$66,560
HealthcareWhite River Health System Inc3$64,480
EducationUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences1$82,619

Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.

Wage trend

Median annual wage in Arkansas over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.

Median annual wage, Arkansas2023 to 2025
$72,9202023$77,1302024$78,9402025

Typical entry

  • Education

    Bachelor's degree

  • Experience

    None

  • On-the-job training

    None

Top skills (O*NET)

  • Psychology

    Knowledge

    4.6 / 5
  • Customer and Personal Service

    Knowledge

    4.4 / 5
  • Medicine and Dentistry

    Knowledge

    4.4 / 5
  • English Language

    Knowledge

    4.2 / 5
  • Deductive Reasoning

    Ability

    4.1 / 5
  • Social Perceptiveness

    Technical

    4.1 / 5
  • Problem Sensitivity

    Ability

    4.1 / 5
  • Speaking

    Basic skill

    4.0 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

  1. 01

    Record patients' medical information and vital signs.

  2. 02

    Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.

  3. 03

    Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.

  4. 04

    Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.

  5. 05

    Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.

  6. 06

    Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.

  7. 07

    Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.

  8. 08

    Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.

10-year outlook

Growth 2024 → 2034

+4.9%

Projected annual openings

BLS outlook

Average growth

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 20242034 cycle.

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Side-by-side

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Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Arkansas?
According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Arkansas is $78,940.
How does Arkansas compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
The Arkansas median is -19.7% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Arkansas?
BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $60,780 and the 90th-percentile at $103,660, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
Is Registered Nurses a growing field?
BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
What education is required for Registered Nurses?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Disclaimer

Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.