The Arkansas minimum wage for 2026 and 2027, the tipped and youth rates, and how the rate is set each year. Every figure links to its official source below.
| Rate | 2026 (now) | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard minimum wage | $11.00 | $11.00 |
| Tipped employees (cash wage) Tip allowance of up to $8.37 an hour. | $2.63 | $2.63 |
Current rate in effect since January 1, 2021; next statewide change: the rate stays at $11.00: the Department's notice lists $11.00 effective January 1, 2021 and no later step.
Arkansas allows a gratuity allowance of up to $8.37 an hour against the $11.00 minimum wage, so the lowest cash wage is $2.63 an hour. A student worker paid the 85% student rate cannot be paid less than the base wage guaranteed to any other employee who gets a gratuity allowance.
A full-time student at an accredited Arkansas school who works a limited number of hours may be paid 85% of the applicable minimum wage if the Department of Labor and Licensing has issued a Student Certificate of Eligibility.
The Arkansas minimum wage applies to employers of 4 or more people.
This page lists no city or county minimum wages for Arkansas; the state rate is the one the Department of Labor and Licensing publishes.
The Department of Labor and Licensing's notice states the minimum wage as $11.00 an hour effective January 1, 2021 and lists no inflation adjustment or later step, so the rate stays there until the law changes.
What does $11.00 an hour leave you after tax in Arkansas? Run it through the paycheck calculator.
Open the paycheck calculator →Every state side by side: minimum wage by state 2026 and minimum wage by state 2027.
$16.90 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$15.00 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$11.00 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$13.73 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$15.15 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$15.16 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$17.13 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$15.00 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$17.00 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$7.25 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$16.94 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$7.25 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$15.92 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$7.25 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$7.25 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$7.25 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$7.25 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$7.25 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$12.77 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$15.00 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
$15.00 now; tipped, youth and local rates.
Every 2026 state minimum wage vs the $7.25 federal floor, DOL-sourced, all 50 states + DC + territories
Every 2027 state minimum wage vs the $7.25 federal floor, official-source verified, all 50 states + DC + territories
Federal, state, FICA withholding, net take-home, W-4 alignment
Convert annual salary to hourly wage, part-time calculations