Loan Officers Salary
Loan Officers in Arkansas make a median of $70,260 a year, or about $33.78 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $80,169 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 22.1% 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 $70K get you in Arkansas?
About loan officers
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Loan officers pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $70K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 loan officers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $97K spread from bottom to top.
Loan Officers salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro | $95K | +35% | 80 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $84K | +20% | 500 |
| Hot Springs | $84K | +20% | 70 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $63K | -11% | 660 |
| Fort Smith | $61K | -13% | 180 |
Compare to other states
Track loan officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a loan officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 22.2% 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 loan officers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new loan officers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,353/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is loan officer a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $70K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for loan officers?
Arkansas pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do loan officers make in Arkansas?
The median is $70,260 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,210, and experienced loan officers can clear $136,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,604/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 22.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a loan officers 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 loan officers salary is worth about $80,169 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do loan officers 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.