Arkansas minimum wage
Minimum wage in Arkansas, in effect since January 1, 2021
$11.00 an hour
That is $3.75 above the federal minimum of $7.25. Employers in Arkansas pay the higher state rate.
Next increase: none announced as of October 9, 2026.
Standard rate
$11.00
since January 1, 2021
Tipped cash wage
$2.63
Max tip credit $8.37
Next change
None set
as of 2021
Federal minimum
$7.25
unchanged since 2009
Tipped employees
Employers in Arkansas can pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.63 an hour, taking a tip credit of up to $8.37, as long as tips bring the employee to at least $11.00 for every hour worked. If they don't, the employer makes up the difference.
Exceptions and details
- The Arkansas Minimum Wage Act covers employers with 4 or more employees.
- Tipped employees must be paid at least $2.63 an hour, and tips must bring them up to the minimum wage or the employer makes up the difference.
- Employers can apply for a reduced minimum wage for students (application on the Department's page).
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Arkansas?
- $11.00 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2021.
- What is the tipped minimum wage in Arkansas?
- $2.63 an hour in cash wages, provided tips bring the employee up to $11.00 an hour.
- When does the Arkansas minimum wage go up?
- No increase had been announced as of October 9, 2026.
Running payroll in Arkansas?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Labor Standards Division · data as of January 1, 2021 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.