Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Salary
The median pay for a probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in Arkansas is $51,180/year ($24.61/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $58,398 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 30.4% 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 $51K get you in Arkansas?
About probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in Arkansas runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $66K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.6% 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 probation officers and correctional treatment specialists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists salary by metro in Arkansas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro | $55K | +7% | 30 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $53K | +3% | 200 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $53K | +3% | 100 |
| Fort Smith | $45K | -11% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track probation officers and correctional treatment 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 probation officers and correctional treatment specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 29.6% 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 probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new probation officers and correctional treatment specialists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,222/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is probation officers and correctional treatment specialist a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $51K here vs. $66K 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 probation officers and correctional treatment specialists?
Arkansas pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do probation officers and correctional treatment specialists make in Arkansas?
The median is $51,180 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,030, and experienced probation officers and correctional treatment specialists can clear $63,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,445/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 29.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a probation officers and correctional treatment 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 probation officers and correctional treatment specialists salary is worth about $58,398 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do probation officers and correctional treatment 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.