Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Arkansas
The median payroll specialist in Arkansas earned $46,110 a year in May 2025[1], 20.9% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Arkansas at #50 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $34,270 | $46,110 | $71,280 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Arkansas earns $40,260–$55,360; the top tenth earns $71,280 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Arkansas median that makes about $65,871 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for payroll specialists 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Arkansas
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro, AR | $55,960 | 40 | |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $59,220 | 320 | |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $55,240 | 250 | |
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $53,970 | 90 | |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $51,390 | 100 | |
| South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $49,420 | 120 | |
| West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $51,870 | 50 | |
| East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $47,120 | 50 |
Jonesboro, AR pays the most ($50,370) and East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area the least ($39,440): $10,930 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | +2.9% | |
| Alabama | +0.1% | |
| Arkansas | +0.0% | |
| Mississippi | -2.0% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Arkansas?
The median was $46,110 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $40,260 to $55,360.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Arkansas?
About $65,871 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Arkansas do payroll specialists earn the most?
Jonesboro, AR, with a median of $50,370 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.