The average nurse practitioner salary in Arkansas is $130,260 per year. The median sits at $125,660, which is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because it is less affected by a small number of very high earners at the top of the market. Budget toward the median as your baseline and adjust upward based on the seniority and specialization of the candidate you are targeting.
Nurse practitioner salary in Arkansas (2026)
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The average nurse practitioner salary in Arkansas is $130,260 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $125,660 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Arkansas employs 3,970 nurse practitioners, and the $4,600 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior nurse practitioners in Arkansas typically earn around $99,420, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $205,810 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a nurse practitioner hire in Arkansas, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $125,660 |
Average Annual Salary | $130,260 |
vs. National Average | 5.1% below the national mean of $137,300 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 3,970 employed nurse practitioners across Arkansas.
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Nurse practitioner salary percentiles in Arkansas
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $99,420 |
25th Percentile | $105,450 |
75th Percentile | $137,550 |
90th Percentile | $205,810 |
Employers setting an offer for a nurse practitioner in Arkansas should expect a wide range depending on experience level. Entry-level candidates typically fall near $99,420, while the most experienced specialists reach $205,810 or beyond, giving you a spread of over $100,000 to work with when structuring compensation tiers.
Nurse practitioner salary by city in Arkansas
City | Average Annual Salary |
Little Rock | $135,630 |
Fort Smith | $133,650 |
Texarkana | $130,830 |
Fayetteville | $130,530 |
Jonesboro | $129,980 |
Location-based pay differences across Arkansas are relatively modest, which means employers outside Little Rock do not face a large compensation disadvantage when recruiting nurse practitioners. Little Rock leads at $135,630 while Jonesboro sits at $129,980, a gap of roughly $5,650 that is unlikely to drive candidate decisions on its own. Specialization and experience level will matter more than geography when you set your offer.
How Arkansas compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Arkansas | $130,260 | $125,660 |
Oklahoma | $134,200 | $133,390 |
Texas | $131,420 | $131,670 |
Missouri | $130,970 | $129,930 |
Mississippi | $125,340 | $124,730 |
Tennessee | $115,510 | $117,590 |
Arkansas sits in the middle of the regional peer group, making it a broadly cost-comparable market for nurse practitioner hiring relative to most neighboring states. Oklahoma leads the group at a mean of $134,200, while Arkansas at $130,260 trails Texas by only $1,160 and leads Mississippi and Tennessee by a wider margin. Employers in Arkansas can expect compensation expectations from candidates to align closely with those in Missouri and Texas.
Frequently asked questions about nurse practitioner salary in Arkansas
What is the average nurse practitioner salary in Arkansas?
What is the salary range for a nurse practitioner in Arkansas?
The salary range for a nurse practitioner in Arkansas runs from $99,420 at the 10th percentile to $205,810 at the 90th percentile. The 25th percentile sits at $105,450 and the 75th percentile at $137,550, giving you a practical mid-range band for most hires. Use the 25th-to-75th percentile band as your core budgeting range and reserve the upper end for candidates with specialized credentials or significant experience.
How does Arkansas compare to other states for nurse practitioner salary?
Arkansas has a mean nurse practitioner salary of $130,260, which places it 5.1% below the national mean of $137,300. Among regional peers, Arkansas trails Oklahoma at $134,200 and Texas at $131,420, but leads Mississippi at $125,340 and Tennessee at $115,510. Employers in Arkansas can recruit at a modest cost advantage relative to the national market while remaining competitive within the region.
What do the top-earning nurse practitioners make in Arkansas?
Nurse practitioners at the 90th percentile in Arkansas earn $205,810 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $137,550, so the jump to the top tier is substantial and typically reflects highly specialized roles or significant years of experience. When competing for senior nurse practitioner talent in Arkansas, plan for offers well above the statewide median of $125,660 to remain credible to top candidates.
Nurse Practitioner salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1171 (Nurse Practitioners).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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