Human Resources Specialists Salary
In Arkansas, human resources specialists earn $55,010 at the median, or about $26.45 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $62,768 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in Arkansas?
About human resources specialists
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for human resources specialists in Arkansas runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% 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 human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Specialists salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $59K | +7% | 1,580 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $58K | +5% | 1,630 |
| Fort Smith | $54K | -1% | 400 |
| Jonesboro | $54K | -2% | 200 |
| Hot Springs | $51K | -7% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track human resources specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 27.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources specialists in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources specialists typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,922/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 53% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is human resources specialist a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $55K here vs. $76K 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 human resources specialists?
Arkansas pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do human resources specialists make in Arkansas?
The median is $55,010 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,030, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $99,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,688/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 27.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources specialists 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 human resources specialists salary is worth about $62,768 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources specialists 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.