Community Health Workers Salary
Community Health Workers in Arkansas make a median of $44,890 a year, or about $21.58 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $51,221 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 33.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Arkansas?
About community health workers
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for community health workers in Arkansas runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $52K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level community health workers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Community Health Workers salary by metro in Arkansas
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $59K | +31% | 40 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $47K | +4% | 110 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $45K | -1% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track community health workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a community health worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 33.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for community health workers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new community health workers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,321/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is community health worker a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $45K here vs. $52K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for community health workers?
Arkansas pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do community health workers make in Arkansas?
The median is $44,890 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,680, and experienced community health workers can clear $69,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,044/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 33.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a community health workers salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median community health workers salary is worth about $51,221 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do community health workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.