PublicPay

Federal employee salaries in Arkansas

Full-time federal civilian employees with a published duty station in Arkansas earned a median of $92,491 in September 2026, 16% below the all-federal median of $109,641. That ranks #39 of 51 (50 states and DC) by median pay.

Median pay
$92,491
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$64,538–$121,065
25th–75th percentile
Employees
9,567
with published duty station
Rank
#39
of 51 by median
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Arkansas
All federal (full-time)

OPM withheld the duty-station location for 943,611 federal employees nationwide, including the entire Department of Defense civilian workforce and large parts of the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice. Those employees are not counted in any state, so state totals understate the federal presence, especially in states with large military installations.

Pay by occupation in Arkansas

The 30 largest occupations in Arkansas with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay (56 qualify in total).

Federal pay by occupation in Arkansas
Occupation Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Nurse Series 0610 1,578 $128,399 $112,079–$150,227
Medical Support Assistance Series 0679 578 $52,977 $49,950–$56,004
Medical Officer Series 0602 328 $321,068 $294,047–$367,890
Social Work Series 0185 285 $111,469 $94,317–$119,896
Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301 247 $89,618 $74,678–$106,924
Social Insurance Administration Series 0105 246 $94,597 $89,618–$107,411
Consumer Safety Inspection Series 1862 241 $72,012 $67,896–$78,186
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant Series 0303 215 $56,004 $51,802–$59,031
Nursing Assistant Series 0621 193 $53,440 $51,868–$56,583
Veterans Claims Examining Series 0996 193 $88,356 $72,500–$98,459
Pharmacist Series 0660 188 $177,337 $164,845–$187,888
Practical Nurse Series 0620 182 $71,159 $65,685–$77,863
General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401 167 $113,378 $92,491–$127,725
Custodial Working Series 3566 145 $41,761 $40,216–$43,305
Management and Program Analysis Series 0343 144 $97,087 $79,658–$116,542
Soil Conservation Series 0457 142 $82,148 $65,838–$104,427
General Health Science Series 0601 140 $84,638 $82,770–$113,533
Forestry Technician Series 0462 135 $58,871 $48,436–$73,047
Information Technology Management Series 2210 126 $119,690 $104,427–$142,476
Human Resources Management Series 0201 124 $110,395 $92,491–$125,668
Health Aid and Technician Series 0640 105 $57,631 $52,977–$61,660
Medical Technologist Series 0644 94 $106,050 $99,900–$120,710
Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist Series 0647 90 $96,448 $90,583–$104,818
Psychology Series 0180 82 $151,894 $117,081–$172,777
Pharmacy Technician Series 0661 81 $62,429 $59,144–$68,632
General Business and Industry Series 1101 81 $77,168 $63,780–$98,459
Maintenance Mechanic Series 4749 79 $62,527 $57,038–$71,328
Social Science Series 0101 79 $89,618 $81,196–$97,087
Air Traffic Control Series 2152 78 $112,642 $100,797–$130,033
Biological Science Technician Series 0404 76 $58,871 $49,950–$67,896

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Pay by agency in Arkansas

Federal pay by agency in Arkansas
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Veterans Affairs 6,170 $94,317 $60,553–$128,828
Department of Agriculture 1,336 $76,128 $63,780–$95,475
Social Security Administration 365 $94,597 $77,168–$107,411
Department of Health and Human Services 360 $124,177 $101,443–$146,742
Department of the Interior 323 $73,252 $57,188–$98,459
Department of Justice 289 $86,026 $76,128–$97,087
Department of Transportation 191 $110,786 $100,773–$131,076
Department of Commerce 120 $110,190 $87,986–$138,370
Department of Homeland Security 76 $103,223 $89,508–$127,662
Department of the Treasury 62 $111,759 $75,430–$146,249
Department of Energy 61 $112,176 $104,427–$126,834
Department of Labor 44 $98,459 $92,491–$113,378

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved +3.3% from $89,530 in September 2025 to $92,491 in September 2026. Headcount went from 10,240 to 9,567 (−6.6%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

States with similar median federal pay

All states ranked →