How Much Do Firefighters Make in Arkansas? 2026 Salary Data

Nationally, firefighters make $63,630 a year on average. See how much firefighters make in every state, ranked.

If you're considering a career in firefighting in Arkansas, one of the first questions you probably have is about pay. How much do firefighters actually make in Arkansas? Is it enough to support a family? And how does it compare to what firefighters earn in other states?

Right now, there are 3 Arkansas firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Ouachita Fire Department, starts at $36,504. For the full picture, we pair that with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey (May 2025, published 2026), the official average pay for every firefighter in Arkansas. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Arkansas is $43,380 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Arkansas ranks #44 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $28,680, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $60,860 annually.

What Departments Are Posting Now (FireJobs, as of October 2026)

There are 3 current firefighter postings in Arkansas with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $36,504 to $49,631. We only publish a median with 8 or more postings, because a median of a handful of listings can swing a lot from week to week.

Department	Position	Posted pay (yearly)	Listed
Ouachita Fire Department	Fire Fighter	$36,504 to $51,376	Sep 28
Springdale Fire Department	Firefighter	$46,350 to $68,135	Sep 15
Rogers Fire Department	Firefighter	$49,631 to $58,424	May 26

See all current firefighter openings in Arkansas on FireJobs

These are advertised starting salaries in current full time, entry level firefighter job postings, not averages of what firefighters earn. Posted pay often excludes overtime and incentives, and the BLS figures below include experienced firefighters, so the two numbers measure different things.

Live postings: FireJobs, updated Oct 7, 2026

How Much Do Firefighters Make in Arkansas?

Here are the key numbers for firefighters in Arkansas, straight from the BLS:

Metric	Arkansas	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$43,380	$63,630
Median annual salary	$39,690	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$28,680	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$60,860	$101,040
Firefighters employed	2,480	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Arkansas firefighters earn more than $39,690 and half earn less. The average gets pulled around by a small number of very high earners in the biggest departments.

Firefighter Salary Breakdown in Arkansas

Entry level: Around $28,680. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $39,690. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $60,860 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, and Rogers have the biggest career departments, and Northwest Arkansas departments have been raising pay to compete with the region's growth. Smaller cities and rural areas rely heavily on volunteers.

Arkansas vs. National Average

At $43,380, the average Arkansas firefighter earns about $20,250 (32%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Arkansas at #44 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Arkansas has one of the lowest costs of living in the country, which offsets a below average wage. Housing in particular is cheap outside of Northwest Arkansas.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Arkansas

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, Jonesboro, Rogers.
Union representation. Arkansas is a right to work state with limited collective bargaining for public employees, so pay is set by city budgets rather than union contracts. Larger cities still have active IAFF locals that lobby for raises.
Certifications. Paramedic certification is the single biggest pay bump for most firefighters, often adding $5,000 to $15,000 a year. Hazmat, technical rescue, and driver/operator certifications add more.
Overtime. Most departments run 24 hour shifts, and overtime, holiday pay, and call back pay can add 10% to 30% on top of base salary.
Rank. Promotion to engineer, lieutenant, captain, and chief officer each brings a meaningful raise. Chief officers in Arkansas's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Arkansas

The basic path is the same everywhere: meet the age and education requirements, pass a written test and the CPAT physical ability test, clear a background check and medical exam, and complete a fire academy. Many Arkansas departments strongly prefer or require EMT certification, and paramedic certification makes you a much stronger candidate.

We have a full step by step guide: How to Become a Firefighter in Arkansas.

Is Being a Firefighter in Arkansas Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Arkansas typically get a defined benefit pension, employer paid health insurance, and a schedule that leaves plenty of days off for family or a second job. Against that you have to weigh the physical toll, the exposure to trauma, and the long term health risks that come with the job. For most people who want this career, the answer is still yes. Just go in with realistic numbers.

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