Bartenders Salary in Arkansas
In Arkansas, bartenders earn a median $25,090 a year, well below the national median of $34,340 (−27%); the state ranks 42nd of 51 states by median. That is 42% less than the median across all occupations in Arkansas ($43,630). Among neighbouring states, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee pay more (up to $30,090 in Missouri) and Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana pay less (down to $20,850 in Louisiana). Arkansas employs 3,020 bartenders, 2.32 per 1,000 jobs, the 46th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.48 means it is less common in Arkansas than nationally.
Arkansas vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Arkansas | Hourly | $11.00 | $11.23 | $12.06 | $15.31 | $27.32 | $15.80 | 3,020 | 2.32 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $22,880 | $23,350 | $25,090 | $31,840 | $56,830 | $32,850 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $9.67 | $13.17 | $16.51 | $22.87 | $35.47 | $19.61 | 756,390 | – | – |
| Annual | $20,110 | $27,400 | $34,340 | $47,570 | $73,770 | $40,790 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 42nd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 46th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.48
- Jobs per 1,000
- 2.32
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Arkansas's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Arkansas
7 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Arkansas publish a row for bartenders, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $13.80 | $28,710 | $16,560 | $56,350 | 1,380 | 2.25 | 0.46 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $12.77 | $26,570 | $23,570 | $60,040 | 910 | 3.32 | 0.68 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $11.80 | $24,540 | $23,220 | $61,640 | 780 | 2.18 | 0.45 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $11.76 | $24,460 | $22,880 | $56,830 | 150 | 2.48 | 0.51 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $11.46 | $23,830 | $22,880 | $58,250 | 200 | 2.06 | 0.42 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $11.23 | $23,350 | $22,880 | $49,350 | 230 | 5.91 | 1.22 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $11.00 | $22,880 | $15,080 | $66,700 | 160 | 2.86 | 0.59 |
| West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $12.82 | $26,660 | $22,880 | $47,830 | 180 | 2.10 | 0.43 |
| South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $11.33 | $23,570 | $22,880 | $39,840 | 170 | 1.42 | 0.29 |
| East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $11.23 | $23,350 | $22,880 | $37,750 | 70 | 1.03 | 0.21 |
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $11.14 | $23,160 | $22,880 | $36,730 | 250 | 2.08 | 0.43 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Bartenders (every state ranked) and the Arkansas wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Arkansas estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.