Elementary School Teacher Salary in Arkansas: $59,017 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Arkansas's 21 metropolitan areas, the average median elementary school teacher pay sits at $59,017/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 25-2021. Because Arkansas sits at BEA RPP 86.9 (13% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $67,914 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Rogers ($62,008), Springdale ($61,964), Fayetteville ($61,010).
The projected average median salary for elementary school teachers in Arkansas in 2026 is $59,018, which is 8.6% lower than the national median of $64,597. There is a notable salary disparity within the state, with the highest paying city being Rogers at $62,616 and the lowest, Texarkana, at $50,339, indicating a gap of $12,277. This difference can be attributed to various factors, including local cost of living, school district funding, and varying demand for educators in different regions. In Arkansas, state licensing requirements can be stringent, and teachers are generally expected to hold a bachelor's degree and complete a teacher education program. Demand for elementary school teachers is mainly driven by population growth in metro areas, particularly in cities like Rogers and Springdale, which project salaries of $62,571 and $61,608 respectively. With a total employment of 7,471 elementary school teachers projected for 2026, and a growth rate of 0.98% from 2025, the job market shows steady demand for educators. Cities such as Little Rock and Hot Springs have salaries of $59,154 and $58,296, illustrating a solid range of opportunities depending on the location within the state.
Arkansas Elementary School Teacher Salary Range
Overall salary range in Arkansas: $40,478 (lowest entry-level) to $97,054 (highest top earner)
Arkansas vs National Average
Arkansas elementary school teachers earn 8.64% less than the national median ($-5,580/year difference).
Arkansas Elementary School Teacher Salary Distribution (2026)
Elementary School Teacher salaries in Arkansas range from $50,142 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $73,794 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $59,017. The Arkansas median is $5,580 below the US national median of $64,597. The average hourly rate is $28.37/hr. Approximately 7,471 elementary school teachers are employed across 21 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$50,517
2025 BLS Actual
$58,445
2026 Current Est.
$59,017
2019–2027 Growth
+18.0%
Salary Trajectory for Elementary School Teachers in Arkansas (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 0.98% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $50,517 | Actual |
| 2020 | $51,422 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,881 | Actual |
| 2022 | $52,262 | Actual |
| 2023 | $54,090 | Actual |
| 2024 | $53,773 | Actual |
| 2025 | $58,445 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $59,017 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $59,596 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Arkansas metropolitan area, the median elementary school teacher salary grew 15.7% from $50,517 (2019) to $58,445 (2025). At a 0.98% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $59,596 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,079 (17.97%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Arkansas metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 0.98% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Arkansas
Lowest Paying Cities in Arkansas
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Texarkana | $50,339 |
| Fort Smith | $53,136 |
| Van Buren | $54,112 |
| Bryant | $55,086 |
| Searcy | $55,502 |
Best Value Cities for Elementary School Teachers in Arkansas
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Arkansas cities offer the most purchasing power for elementary school teachers.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogers | $62,616 | 86.9 | $72,055 |
| Springdale | $62,571 | 86.9 | $72,003 |
| Hot Springs | $58,296 | 85.73 | $68,000 |
| Fayetteville | $61,608 | 91.353 | $67,439 |
| North Little Rock | $58,281 | 86.9 | $67,067 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Arkansas
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $50,142 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $59,017 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $73,794 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Arkansas metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 21 Cities in Arkansas
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rogers | $62,616 |
| 2 | Springdale | $62,571 |
| 3 | Fayetteville | $61,608 |
| 4 | Little Rock | $59,154 |
| 5 | Hot Springs | $58,296 |
| 6 | North Little Rock | $58,281 |
| 7 | Conway | $57,898 |
| 8 | Jacksonville | $57,875 |
| 9 | Bentonville | $57,591 |
| 10 | Benton | $57,110 |
| 11 | Paragould | $56,948 |
| 12 | Pine Bluff | $56,902 |
| 13 | Jonesboro | $56,821 |
| 14 | Sherwood | $56,640 |
| 15 | Russellville | $56,341 |
| 16 | Cabot | $56,087 |
| 17 | Searcy | $55,502 |
| 18 | Bryant | $55,086 |
| 19 | Van Buren | $54,112 |
| 20 | Fort Smith | $53,136 |
| 21 | Texarkana | $50,339 |
More Arkansas Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore elementary school teacher hourly pay in Arkansas cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced elementary school teachers.
Explore More Elementary School Teacher Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do elementary school teachers make in Arkansas in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for elementary school teachers in Arkansas?
How does Arkansas elementary school teacher pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level elementary school teacher salary in Arkansas?
How many elementary school teachers are employed in Arkansas?
Which Arkansas city offers the best value for elementary school teachers?
Written by Jordan Lee, M.Ed.
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in elementary education. They focus on curriculum development and teaching methodologies. Their experience includes working in public schools.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 0.98% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 elementary school teacher compensation across Arkansas. State averages are employment-weighted across 21 metro areas — larger metro areas with more elementary school teacherscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.98%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for elementary school teachers (SOC 25-2021).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, M.Ed., a licensed elementary school teacher with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov