Arkansas Minimum Wage 2026: $11.00 an Hour, Tip Credit Rules

Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 per hour, in force since January 1, 2021 and set by Ark. Code 11-4-210, as amended by the 2018 initiated act that Arkansas voters approved on November 6, 2018. Tipped employees must receive a cash wage of at least $2.63 per hour, with tips making up the rest. The act ends at $11.00, so no Arkansas increase is scheduled for January 1, 2027.

The federal minimum is $7.25 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)(C)), so the state figure is what a covered Arkansas worker must be paid. For other states, see our guide to minimum wage by state.

Information last verified on September 30, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This page covers the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act (Ark. Code 11-4-201 to 11-4-222) and its rules, and how they interact with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). It does not cover overtime rules in detail, Arkansas wage payment law beyond a short pointer, or any other state.

What is the Arkansas minimum wage?

The Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing poster tells employers that all employees covered by Ark. Code 11-4-202 to 11-4-220 must be paid at least $11.00 an hour effective January 1, 2021. The statutory text, as amended by the 2018 initiated act, reads: "beginning January 1, 2019, every employer shall pay each of his or her employees wages at the rate of not less than nine dollars and twenty-five cents ($9.25) per hour, beginning January 1, 2020 the rate of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) per hour and beginning January 1, 2021 the rate of not less than eleven dollars ($11.00) per hour except as otherwise provided in this subchapter."

Some printed copies of the Arkansas wage statutes, including older reprints, still show pre-2018 figures. The 2018 act amended Ark. Code 11-4-210, and the $11.00 rate is the one in force.

Will the Arkansas minimum wage go up in 2027?

No increase is scheduled. The initiated act's text ends at $11.00 on January 1, 2021, and it has no indexing clause tying the rate to inflation. It was an initiated statute rather than a constitutional amendment, and the federal minimum would matter only if it rose above $11.00.

The Arkansas Secretary of State's initiatives and referenda page shows no wage measure for the November 3, 2026 ballot. If that changes, a proposed measure is not law unless voters approve it. The agency poster this page relies on is the 2023 edition, and no newer rate appeared in the agency materials reviewed.

Who is covered by the Arkansas minimum wage?

The state minimum wage applies to an employer of four or more persons. Under 11 CAR 11-102(5)(B), the term "employer" does not include a business for any workweek in which fewer than four employees are employed. The poster says the same: the Arkansas minimum wage applies to an employer of four or more persons.

Ark. Code 11-4-203 also excludes certain workers from the definition of employee, including executive, administrative and professional employees and outside salespeople, students performing services for their own school, bona fide independent contractors, and some agricultural employees, among others. The exact subdivisions have been renumbered over time, so check the current code before relying on a specific paragraph.

A small employer or excluded worker outside the state law may still be covered by the federal FLSA, which reaches employees in commerce and enterprises meeting its coverage tests (29 U.S.C. 206(a), 203(s)).

Tipped employees in Arkansas

Arkansas allows a tip credit. The agency poster says the allowance for gratuities may not exceed $8.37 per hour, which is the $11.00 rate minus the $2.63 cash wage. The agency fact sheet says the state tip credit did not change, so tipped employees must still be paid at least $2.63 per hour and tips must be enough to raise the employee to the applicable minimum wage rate.

Ark. Code 11-4-212 is the tip section. Under the agency's rule 11 CAR 11-705(b)(1)(C), for occupations other than waiters, waitresses, bellhops, beauty operators and barbers, tips are recognized only if the employee receives more than $20.00 per month in tips.

The Arkansas $2.63 cash wage is higher than the federal $2.13 (DOL tipped-wage table), so the state figure controls. The federal rule that an employer may not keep employees' tips, including letting managers or supervisors keep any portion, applies in every state (29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(B)).

Lower rates for students and other workers

Ark. Code 11-4-210(b) allows a full-time student to be paid not less than 85 percent of the minimum wage. According to the poster, the student rate is limited to 20 hours in school weeks and 40 hours otherwise, and the employer needs a Student Certificate of Eligibility from the Department.

There is no general youth or training wage in the sources reviewed for this page. The federal FLSA has its own youth rate of $4.25 for the first 90 days for a new employee under 20 (29 U.S.C. 206(g)), but Arkansas's $11.00 is the higher standard, and 29 U.S.C. 218(a) does not excuse an employer from paying it.

Do Arkansas cities set their own minimum wage?

Arkansas law bars them from requiring private employers to pay more. Ark. Code 11-4-222(b), enacted by Act 643 of 2017, provides: "A political subdivision shall not establish, mandate, or otherwise require an employer to provide to an employee a minimum or living wage rate or employment benefit that exceeds the requirements of federal laws or regulations or state laws or rules." A political subdivision means a county, city, or town, and the section's definition of "employer" does not include a public employer.

An uncodified section of Act 643 says it "does not preempt any state law or local minimum wage ordinance requirements in effect on the effective date of this act." This page lists no Arkansas city or county minimum wage, because none was verified.

How the federal minimum wage fits in

The FLSA sets $7.25 per hour (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)(C)). Under 29 U.S.C. 218(a), nothing in the FLSA excuses noncompliance with a state law establishing a higher minimum wage, and DOL says that where an employee is subject to both state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher rate. In Arkansas that is $11.00 for workers covered by the state act. The federal wage changes only if Congress passes and the President signs a bill. Read the federal rules on our federal minimum wage page.

How to file an Arkansas minimum wage complaint

The Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Division of Labor (Labor Standards), administers the state minimum wage. Its Labor Standards Section investigates wage claims filed by workers who are owed $2,000 or less. A worker is not eligible to file a wage claim if the amount in dispute is more than $2,000 or the worker makes more than $50,000 a year, and a worker may not pursue both a civil action and a wage claim for the same wages.

Remedies. Under Ark. Code 11-4-218(a), an employer who pays less than the minimum wage must pay any applicable civil penalties and is liable to the employee for the full amount of the unpaid wages, less any amount actually paid, plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees allowed by the court. Since Act 853 of 2019, the employee "may be awarded an additional amount up to, but not greater than," the unpaid wages "to be paid as liquidated damages if the employee proves the violation was willful" (11-4-218(a)(2)).

Deadline to sue. Ark. Code 11-4-218(g), added by Act 853 of 2019, provides: "The statute of limitations for causes of action under this subchapter is two (2) years." An employee joining another employee's suit must give written consent to become a party and file that consent in the court where the action is brought (11-4-218(e)(4)). Ask a lawyer licensed in Arkansas how the deadline applies to your facts.

Penalties and retaliation. Ark. Code 11-4-206 provides a civil penalty of $50 to $1,000 per violation for willful violations, with each day a separate violation. Under 11-4-206(b), willfully discharging or discriminating against an employee who complained or testified is itself a violation carrying the same penalty range.

Federal complaint. DOL's Wage and Hour Division takes complaints at 1-866-487-9243. Under 29 U.S.C. 216(b), an employer who violates the federal minimum wage owes unpaid wages plus an equal amount as liquidated damages, and a federal suit generally must start within two years, or three for a willful violation (29 U.S.C. 255(a)). For a missing final check, see Arkansas final paycheck laws and our guide to unpaid wages.

Arkansas compared with neighboring states

Border-town workers may see different rules across the line. See our pages on the Missouri minimum wage, Tennessee minimum wage, Mississippi minimum wage, Louisiana minimum wage, Texas minimum wage and Oklahoma minimum wage. Overtime is a separate calculation; try the overtime calculator.

Disclaimer: This page is general legal information, not legal advice. It covers the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act as verified on September 30, 2026. For a specific pay situation, consult a lawyer licensed in Arkansas or the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing.

Related pages

• Minimum wage by state
• Federal minimum wage rules
• Arkansas final paycheck laws
• Arkansas at-will employment laws
• Unpaid wages and how to claim them
• Overtime calculator

Last updated: September 30, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum wage in Arkansas in 2026?

$11.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2021, under Ark. Code 11-4-210 as amended by the 2018 initiated act and confirmed on the state agency's poster.

Will Arkansas's minimum wage go up in 2027?

No increase is scheduled. The 2018 act ends at $11.00 on January 1, 2021 and has no inflation indexing, and no wage measure appears on the November 2026 ballot page.

What is the Arkansas tipped minimum wage?

The cash wage for tipped employees is at least $2.63 per hour, and the tip allowance may be up to $8.37 per hour, provided tips bring the employee to $11.00 (Ark. Code 11-4-212).

Does the Arkansas minimum wage apply to small businesses?

The state minimum wage applies to an employer of four or more persons (11 CAR 11-102(5)(B)). Smaller employers may still be covered by the federal FLSA.

Can a student be paid less than the minimum wage in Arkansas?

A full-time student may be paid not less than 85 percent of the minimum wage with a Student Certificate of Eligibility, within hour limits (Ark. Code 11-4-210(b)).

Is the Arkansas minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage?

Yes. Arkansas's $11.00 exceeds the federal $7.25, and 29 U.S.C. 218(a) does not excuse noncompliance with a higher state minimum wage.

What can I recover if my Arkansas employer pays less than minimum wage?

The unpaid wages plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees, and, if you prove the violation was willful, a court may add liquidated damages up to the unpaid amount (Ark. Code 11-4-218(a)(2)). Ark. Code 11-4-218(g) sets a two-year statute of limitations for claims under the state minimum wage law.

Why do some Arkansas statute copies show a lower minimum wage?

Older statute reprints still print pre-2018 figures. The 2018 initiated act amended Ark. Code 11-4-210 to $11.00 effective January 1, 2021.