The minimum wage in Fort Smith is $11.00/hour in 2026. See how it compares to the MIT living wage of $17.50/hour and local cost of living.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Calculate annual, monthly, and weekly income at any hourly wage in Fort Smith.
The minimum wage in Fort Smith is the Arkansas statewide minimum of $11.00/hour. Fort Smith does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Arkansas statewide minimum of $11.00/hour applies to most private employers. The bigger question for most workers is how that compares to what it actually costs to live in Fort Smith. With average 1-bedroom rent near $750/month and a cost-of-living index of 78 (US average = 100), the gap between the minimum wage and a true living wage is significant.
| Benchmark (Fort Smith, 2026) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $11.00 | $22,880 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $17.50 | $36,400 |
| MIT living wage (family of four, one earner) | $37.00 | $76,960 |
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25 | $15,080 |
| Average rent (1-bedroom, annual) | - | $9,000 |
Living wage figures: MIT Living Wage Calculator for Sebastian County. Minimum wage reflects the rate applicable to most private employers in Fort Smith.
Fort Smith sits on the Oklahoma border along the Arkansas River and is the second-largest city in Arkansas, with an economy built on manufacturing and logistics (including the headquarters of trucking company ArcBest), healthcare, and a U.S. Marshals heritage.
| Local Metric | Fort Smith (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 90,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Sebastian County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 78 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $17.50/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $37.00/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $11.00/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $750/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $950/month |
| Median home price | $160,000 |
| Median household income | $48,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 9.75% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.65% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
The minimum wage in Fort Smith is the Arkansas statewide minimum of $11.00/hour. Fort Smith does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Arkansas statewide minimum of $11.00/hour applies to most private employers. A full-time worker (40 hours/week, 52 weeks) earns about $22,880 per year gross before taxes at that rate.
Not for a single adult. The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Sebastian County needs about $17.50/hour (roughly $36,400/year) to cover basic costs. That is $6.50/hour above the applicable minimum wage, and a one-earner family of four needs closer to $37.00/hour.
At $11.00/hour, full-time work (2,080 hours/year) produces about $22,880 gross. Part-time at 30 hours/week is roughly $17,160/year. Average 1-bedroom rent in Fort Smith is about $750/month, or $9,000/year.
Fort Smith does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Arkansas statewide minimum of $11.00/hour applies to most private employers.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour and has not changed since 2009. Arkansas has set a state minimum wage of $11.00/hour, above the federal floor, and that rate applies in Fort Smith.