Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary in Arkansas
Preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators in Arkansas earned a median of $44,990 a year ($21.63 an hour) and a mean of $49,050 in May 2025. The median is 24.1% below the U.S. median of $59,300, ranking 49th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $44,990
- Median hourly
- $21.63
- Mean annual
- $49,050
- Jobs on record
- 1,090
Grey needle: U.S. median, $59,300 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Arkansas compare on pay for preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators?
Arkansas ranks 49th of 52 states and territories. New York is highest at $96,810, $51,820 more than the Arkansas median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 47 | $45,990 | -22% | 220 |
| West Virginia | 48 | $45,660 | -23% | 290 |
| Arkansas | 49 | $44,990 | -24% | 1,090 |
| Kentucky | 50 | $44,530 | -25% | 1,000 |
| Alabama | 51 | $41,780 | -30% | 940 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 52 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Arkansas pay go further after prices?
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the U.S. average, so the $44,990 median buys about what $51,750 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,300 U.S. median. On this measure Arkansas ranks 44th of 50, up from 48th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Arkansas pay preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators the most?
Jonesboro, AR is highest at $48,360, 7.5% above the Arkansas median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro, AR | $48,360 | 70 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $46,590 | 300 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $46,070 | 230 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $40,420 | 50 |
| South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $39,640 | 100 |
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $38,580 | 90 |
| East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $36,750 | 100 |
| West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $36,210 | 90 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Arkansas is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators work in Arkansas?
BLS counts 1,090 jobs in Arkansas, 1.5% of the 73,660 in the U.S. That is the 21st largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in Arkansas, a location quotient of 1.76: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.76 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Arkansas minimum wage compare with pay for preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators in Arkansas was $13.84 in May 2025, $2.84 above the $11.00 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Arkansas
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.