BLS metro-level wage data places Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Fort Smith, AR-OK at a median of $40,710 per year ($19.57/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $38,140, Fort Smith pays +7% above, signaling either concentrated employer demand, a cost-of-living premium, or both. Approximately 140 preschool teachers, except special educations are employed across the Fort Smith MSA in SOC 25-2011.

The Fort Smith pay distribution spans from $27,250 at the 10th percentile to $59,540 at the 90th — a 2.2× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $27,840 and the 75th at $54,160, so half of Fort Smith-based preschool teachers, except special educations earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Fort Smith, AR-OK covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide AR data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.