Salary · AR · SOC 31-1131

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) salary in Arkansas, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for nursing assistants in Arkansas, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for nursing assistants in Arkansas was $34,430 a year, or $16.55 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $28,840 to $39,020. About 17,260 were employed.

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Arkansas vs the US

Certified Nursing Assistant wages in Arkansas and the US, May 2025
Measure	AR annual	AR hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$34,430	$16.55	$42,260
Mean (average)	$33,970	$16.33	$42,700
10th percentile	$28,840	$13.87	$33,940
25th percentile	$30,200	$14.52	$37,260
75th percentile	$36,070	$17.34	$47,220
90th percentile	$39,020	$18.76	$51,980

Employment in Arkansas: 17,260. Location quotient: 1.42 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Certified Nursing Assistant salary by metro area in Arkansas

Certified Nursing Assistant median wage by metro area, Arkansas
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$35,370	$17.00	5,250
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$35,820	$17.22	2,320
Fort Smith, AR-OK	$32,020	$15.39	1,580
Jonesboro, AR	$35,210	$16.93	1,050
Hot Springs, AR	$29,940	$14.39	810
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$38,010	$18.27	4,930
Texarkana, TX-AR	$32,880	$15.81	820

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Arkansas

Median pay: $34,430 a year ($16.55 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $28,840 to $39,020 a year

Employed: 17,260

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Arkansas</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$34,430</strong> a year ($16.55 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $28,840 to $39,020 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 17,260</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/certified-nursing-assistant/ar" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a CNA make per hour in Arkansas?

The median hourly wage was $16.55 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $13.87 and the 90th was $18.76.

What is the average CNA salary in Arkansas?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $33,970 a year and a median of $34,430 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do nursing assistants in Arkansas earn more than the US median?

The Arkansas median of $34,430 is 19% lower than the US median of $42,260 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Arkansas rank for certified nursing assistant pay?

Arkansas ranks 48 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for nursing assistants (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 31-1131. BLS reports CNAs as Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131). Figures BLS did not publish are left out.