Customer Support Specialist salary in the South Arkansas nonmetro area
The South Arkansas nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for customer support specialists: the median of $36,830 a year1 is 2.7% below the Arkansas statewide median of $37,840, and 17.7% below the US median of $44,770. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#451 of 520). About 1,000 customer support specialists work here, 5% of the Arkansas total.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the South Arkansas nonmetro area against Arkansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Arkansas (Nonmetro) | $27,530 | $36,830 | $56,090 | |
| Arkansas | $30,150 | $37,840 | $56,630 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
Customer support specialists at the 90th percentile earn $56,090, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of customer support specialists in the South Arkansas nonmetro area earns $31,600–$44,890. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $13,290 wide, between the figure for Arkansas ($12,800) and the US figure ($14,910).
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,530 | $2,294 | $13.24 | $35,523 |
| 25th percentile | $31,600 | $2,633 | $15.19 | $40,774 |
| Median | $36,830 | $3,069 | $17.71 | $47,523 |
| 75th percentile | $44,890 | $3,741 | $21.58 | $57,923 |
| 90th percentile | $56,090 | $4,674 | $26.97 | $72,374 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $8,060 over the median, the 25th only $5,230 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $10,400 a year in employer cost. 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 $44,770 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the South Arkansas nonmetro area, and the Arkansas statewide median of $37,840 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the South Arkansas nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $10,693 to the $36,830 median and brings it to $47,523 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,5003 with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month4. Change any number below to match your plan.
A local hire here costs about 3.6 times as much as a remote hire in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two, when the fee drops out, it is 4.4 times the remote figure of $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our assessment platform with a written and a spoken English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff interviews every shortlisted candidate live, in English, before you meet them.
Other roles in the South Arkansas nonmetro area
Of the 14 roles we track in the South Arkansas nonmetro area, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between data entry specialists ($37,210) and medical administrative assistants ($36,240). Project Coordinator is the highest at $72,030.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +10.1% | 990 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +1.0% | 50 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 1,000 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -1.6% | 130 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -3.6% | 920 |
Measured against the US median, customer support specialists rank #3 of the 14 roles we track in the South Arkansas nonmetro area (-17.7%), between virtual receptionists (-15.5%) and bookkeepers (-20.0%). The typical role here is at -25.9%, so, measured against the US, customer support specialists cost more in the South Arkansas nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Customer support specialists hold 14.9% of the jobs in these 14 roles in the South Arkansas nonmetro area, 19.8% across Arkansas and 17.0% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Arkansas
Across the 9 areas of Arkansas with data for this job, the median runs from $34,150 in Hot Springs to $39,510 in Fayetteville-Springdale, a gap of $5,360 a year. All 4 areas in Arkansas with more customer support specialists than the South Arkansas nonmetro area also pay more, among them Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR ($38,160) and Fayetteville-Springdale, AR ($39,510).
| Area | Median | vs the South Arkansas nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | +1.8% | 1,860 | |
| East Arkansas (Nonmetro) | +1.7% | 750 | |
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | +0.5% | 1,670 | |
| South Arkansas (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,000 | |
| Jonesboro, AR | -0.2% | 730 | |
| West Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -1.1% | 900 | |
| Hot Springs, AR | -7.3% | 470 |
the South Arkansas nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the South Arkansas nonmetro area is #332 of 520 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Arkansas, Warner Robins and Savannah pay just above the South Arkansas nonmetro area and Lafayette and Hattiesburg just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in the South Arkansas nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many customer support specialists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the South Arkansas nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI | +31.3% | 1,000 | jobs | |
| Bellingham, WA | +27.5% | 1,000 | jobs | |
| Dover, DE | +14.4% | 1,000 | jobs | |
| Savannah, GA | +0.0% | 3,290 | pay | |
| Warner Robins, GA | +0.0% | 770 | pay | |
| South Arkansas (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,000 | ||
| Lafayette, LA | -0.0% | 2,140 | pay | |
| Hattiesburg, MS | -0.4% | 1,280 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in South Arkansas (Nonmetro)?
About $47,523 a year at the median, or $3,960 a month: $36,830 in pay plus about $10,693 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do customer support specialists earn in the South Arkansas nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $36,830 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,530, the 90th $56,090, and the middle half earned $31,600 to $44,890.
Is the South Arkansas nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Arkansas for customer support specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $36,830 against $37,840 statewide. The next area up in Arkansas is the North Arkansas nonmetro area at $37,030, the next down Jonesboro at $36,770.
How many customer support specialists work in the South Arkansas nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,000 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Arkansas total of 20,680. 4 areas in Arkansas have more; the closest in size is the North Arkansas nonmetro area, with about 1,670.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in the South Arkansas nonmetro area?
Yes: $590 a year more at the median. The medians are $36,830 and $36,240.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with the South Arkansas nonmetro area?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $47,523 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: 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.