Accountant salary in the North Arkansas nonmetro area
The North Arkansas nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $60,980 a year1 is 8.1% below the Arkansas statewide median of $66,330, and 27.1% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally that is #519 of 521 areas, in the bottom tenth. BLS counts about 420 people in this job here, 5% of the Arkansas total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the North Arkansas nonmetro area against Arkansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | $42,500 | $60,980 | $99,010 | |
| Arkansas | $45,810 | $66,330 | $119,520 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $99,010, 2.3 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in the North Arkansas nonmetro area earns $49,870–$75,910. The mean ($67,730) is 11% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $26,040 wide, against $36,380 across Arkansas and $42,790 nationally: employers in the North Arkansas nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,500 | $3,542 | $20.43 | $54,839 |
| 25th percentile | $49,870 | $4,156 | $23.98 | $64,348 |
| Median | $60,980 | $5,082 | $29.32 | $78,684 |
| 75th percentile | $75,910 | $6,326 | $36.50 | $97,948 |
| 90th percentile | $99,010 | $8,251 | $47.60 | $127,755 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $11,110 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $14,930, or about $19,265 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in the North Arkansas nonmetro area, and the Arkansas statewide median of $66,330 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local accountants earn.
What a hire really costs in the North Arkansas nonmetro area
At the $60,980 median, a local hire costs about $78,684 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $17,704 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in the North Arkansas nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the North Arkansas nonmetro area, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($73,220); recruiters come next at $52,920.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +20.1% | 190 | |
| Accountant | this role | 420 | |
| Recruiter | -13.2% | 370 | |
| Office Manager | -16.7% | 1,200 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -17.8% | 260 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in the North Arkansas nonmetro area (-27.1%), between paralegals (-26.9%) and project coordinators (-28.4%). The typical role here is at -24.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 5.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the North Arkansas nonmetro area, 7.4% across Arkansas and 9.1% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Arkansas
Across the 9 areas of Arkansas with data for this job, the median runs from $59,770 in Hot Springs to $77,190 in Fayetteville-Springdale, a gap of $17,420 a year. All 4 areas in Arkansas with more accountants than the North Arkansas nonmetro area also pay more, among them Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR ($65,810) and Fayetteville-Springdale, AR ($77,190).
| Area | Median | vs the North Arkansas nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | +7.9% | 2,620 | |
| West Arkansas (Nonmetro) | +4.5% | 360 | |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | +3.3% | 520 | |
| South Arkansas (Nonmetro) | +0.9% | 480 | |
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | this area | 420 | |
| East Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -0.5% | 300 | |
| Hot Springs, AR | -2.0% | 190 |
the North Arkansas nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the North Arkansas nonmetro area is #392 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a small market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. No metro area outside Arkansas pays accountants less than the North Arkansas nonmetro area; the table shows the next lowest outside Arkansas. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the North Arkansas nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo, CO | +28.5% | 420 | jobs | |
| Chico, CA | +27.4% | 420 | jobs | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | +22.0% | 420 | jobs | |
| Laredo, TX | +4.0% | 510 | pay | |
| Gadsden, AL | +3.7% | 280 | pay | |
| Terre Haute, IN | +3.6% | 510 | pay | |
| Tallahassee, FL | +1.4% | 2,450 | pay | |
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | this area | 420 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in North Arkansas (Nonmetro)?
About $78,684 a year at the median, or $6,557 a month: $60,980 in pay plus about $17,704 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in the North Arkansas nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $60,980 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $42,500, the 90th $99,010, and the middle half earned $49,870 to $75,910.
Is the North Arkansas nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Arkansas for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $60,980 against $66,330 statewide. The next area up in Arkansas is the South Arkansas nonmetro area at $61,510, the next down the East Arkansas nonmetro area at $60,690.
How many accountants work in the North Arkansas nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 420 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Arkansas total of 7,870. 4 areas in Arkansas have more; the closest in size is the South Arkansas nonmetro area, with about 480.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in the North Arkansas nonmetro area?
Yes: $8,060 a year more at the median. The medians are $60,980 and $52,920.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.