Government Jobs in Arkansas: Employers & Pay

1,543

local governments (2022)

counties

499

cities, towns and townships

735

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Arkansas state government pay plan

Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services, Office of Personnel Management publishes the classification and pay plan for Arkansas state employees: 797 job classes and 70 pay grades, effective July 1, 2025. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the AR plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Dispatcher 1 class	$47,397 – $70,148
Accountant (government)	Accountant I–II, Financial Accountant, Certified Public Accountant 4 classes	$58,700 – $127,195
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer	Hearing Officer, Administrative Law Judge 2 classes	$52,137 – $169,298
Bank / Financial Examiner	Bank Examiner I–VI, Certified Financial Examiner 7 classes	$58,700 – $139,915
Budget Analyst	Budget Specialist, Budget Analyst, State Budget Analyst 3 classes	$47,397 – $115,632
Child Protective Services (CPS) Caseworker	Child Abuse Investigator 1 class	$52,137 – $77,163
Child Support Officer	Child Support Specialist 1 class	$43,088 – $63,770
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Engineer, Professional Engineer 2 classes	$71,027 – $127,195
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Procurement Specialist 1 class	$47,397 – $70,148
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Corrections Officer, Corrections Corporal 2 classes	$50,845 – $82,776
Court Reporter (official)	Court Reporter 1 class	$63,086 – $93,367
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Forensic Technician, Forensic Specialist, Forensic Scientist 3 classes	$47,397 – $105,120
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Housekeeper 1 class	$33,280 – $49,254
DMV Clerk / Driver License Examiner	Driver's License Examiner 1 class	$43,088 – $63,770
Eligibility Worker / Benefits Specialist	Program Eligibility Specialist I–II 2 classes	$47,397 – $77,163
Emergency Management Specialist	Emergency Management Specialist, Emergency Management Coordinator 2 classes	$47,397 – $77,163
Epidemiologist	Epidemiologist 1 class	$78,130 – $115,632
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Mechanic 1 class	$52,137 – $77,163
Forester	Forester, District Forester 2 classes	$58,700 – $105,120
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forestry Technician 1 class	$35,610 – $52,703
GIS Analyst / Specialist	GIS Analyst, Senior GIS Analyst, State GIS Analyst 3 classes	$60,416 – $119,274
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Attorney I–IV 4 classes	$71,027 – $186,228
Government Auditor	Auditor I–III, Internal Auditor 4 classes	$58,700 – $127,195
Grants Specialist / Manager	Grants Analyst, Grants Coordinator, Grants Manager 3 classes	$43,088 – $84,879
Health Inspector / Environmental Health Specialist	Environmental Health Inspector I–II 2 classes	$57,351 – $93,367
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Heavy Equipment Operator 1 class	$43,088 – $63,770
Human Resources Specialist (government)	HR Specialist, HR Analyst, State Personnel Specialist 3 classes	$43,088 – $86,876
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Revenue Specialist, Tax Specialist, Tax Auditor I–II 4 classes	$43,088 – $115,632
Park Ranger (NPS / state / county)	Park Ranger 1 class	$55,930 – $82,776
Public Defender	Public Defender I–III 3 classes	$71,027 – $169,298
Public Information Officer	Public Information Specialist, Public Information Coordinator 2 classes	$52,137 – $84,879
Social Worker (government)	Social Services Specialist, Licensed Social Worker, +2 more 4 classes	$52,137 – $105,120
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	ASP Trooper 1 class	$67,675 – $100,159
Veterans Service Officer	Veterans Service Officer 1 class	$57,351 – $84,879
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1 class	$67,183 – $99,431
Wildland Firefighter	Firefighter I–II, Forest Ranger I–II 4 classes	$47,397 – $77,163

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services, Office of Personnel Management, Arkansas Executive Branch Pay Tables and Class Code List. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Arkansas

Fire departments · 111

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Little Rock Fire Department	Little Rock	433	Official site
North Little Rock Fire Department	North Little Rock	162	—
Fort Smith Fire Department	Fort Smith	150	Official site
Rogers Fire Department	Rogers	136	Official site
Fayetteville Fire Department	Fayetteville	119	Official site
Jonesboro Fire Department	Jonesboro	115	Official site
Springdale Fire Department	Springdale	113	Official site
Conway Fire-Rescue	Conway	107	Official site
Bentonville Fire Department	Bentonville	103	Official site
Pine Bluff Fire & Emergency Services	Pine Bluff	100	—

All 111 fire departments in Arkansas →

Transit agencies · 8

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Rock Region Metropolitan Transit Authority	North Little Rock	60	Official site
Ozark Regional Transit	Springdale	26	Official site
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville	Fayetteville	21	Official site
City of Eureka Springs	Eureka Springs	16	Official site
City of Fort Smith	Fort Smith	10	Official site
City of Jonesboro	Jonesboro	8	Official site
City of Pine Bluff	Pine Bluff	7	Official site
City of Hot Springs	Hot Springs National Park	6	Official site

All 8 transit agencies in Arkansas →

School districts · 233

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
SPRINGDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT	Springdale	1,509	Official site
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT	Little Rock	1,408	Official site
BENTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT	Bentonville	1,347	Official site
ROGERS SCHOOL DISTRICT	Rogers	1,156	Official site
FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT	Fort Smith	998	Official site
PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Little Rock	922	Official site
FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT	Fayetteville	713	Official site
CABOT SCHOOL DISTRICT	Cabot	669	Official site
CONWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT	Conway	639	Official site
BRYANT SCHOOL DISTRICT	Bryant	595	Official site

All 233 school districts in Arkansas →

Police departments · 225

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 225 police departments in Arkansas →

Sheriff's offices · 75

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 75 sheriff's offices in Arkansas →

Campus police departments · 17

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 17 campus police departments in Arkansas →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Arkansas

Median wage in Arkansas for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in AR	Median in AR	National, government
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	34,570	$74,050	$137,300
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	29,940	$37,050	$46,170
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	29,400	$78,940	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	29,400	$78,940	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	29,400	$78,940	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	29,400	$78,940	$100,490
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	20,680	$37,840	$45,860
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	19,490	$29,750	$39,640
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	12,890	$59,660	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	12,890	$59,660	$74,220
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	12,590	$52,700	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	12,590	$52,700	$65,310
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	11,270	$28,790	$36,990
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	8,590	$37,630	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	8,590	$37,630	$48,290
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	8,200	$61,240	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	8,200	$61,240	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	8,200	$61,240	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	8,200	$61,240	$91,060
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	7,870	$66,330	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	7,870	$66,330	$81,390
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	6,610	$35,770	$40,080
School Cafeteria / Food Service Worker SOC 35-2012	6,530	$30,240	$36,180
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	6,250	$72,950	$96,570
Program Analyst (federal) SOC 13-1111	6,250	$72,950	$96,570
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	6,230	$55,010	$80,330
Middle School Teacher SOC 25-2022	6,140	$59,570	$65,300
Heavy Equipment Operator (government) SOC 47-2073	5,800	$44,520	$52,750
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	5,710	$47,670	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	5,710	$47,670	$76,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Arkansas