Calculate your overtime pay in Fort Smith based on your hourly rate and hours worked, using the federal FLSA 40-hour rule for 2026.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Applicable minimum wage in Fort Smith: $11.00/hour
Arkansas follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the state wage law, both of which require 1.5x the regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Arkansas has no daily overtime requirement.
| Rule | Fort Smith (AR) Requirement |
|---|---|
| Weekly overtime threshold | 40 hours/week (1.5x) |
| Daily overtime | Not required (no daily overtime in Arkansas) |
| Double time | Not required under state or federal law |
| Seventh consecutive day | No special rule |
| Applicable minimum wage | $11.00/hour |
| Federal overtime rate | 1.5x regular rate (FLSA) |
Your overtime rate is based on your regular rate of pay, which includes hourly wages and most non-discretionary bonuses. For example, at $18.00/hour a standard 1.5x overtime hour pays $27.00.
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.
In Fort Smith, Arkansas follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the state wage law, both of which require 1.5x the regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Arkansas has no daily overtime requirement. Overtime is based on your regular rate of pay, which includes most non-discretionary bonuses, not just your base hourly wage.
The applicable minimum wage in Fort Smith is $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. Overtime must be at least 1.5x your regular rate, and if your rate is higher than the minimum, overtime is figured on your actual rate.
No. Arkansas has no daily overtime law, so workers in Fort Smith earn overtime only after 40 hours in a workweek under the federal FLSA and Arkansas law, regardless of how many hours they work in a single day.
Salaried executive, administrative, and professional employees who earn above the FLSA salary threshold ($684/week) and meet the duties tests are generally exempt, as are most independent contractors. Arkansas follows the federal exemption rules and salary threshold. Check with an employment attorney for your situation.
Overtime is taxed as ordinary wages. New for 2026, the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act lets eligible non-exempt workers deduct up to $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers) of overtime pay from federal taxable income. Arkansas taxes overtime as ordinary income at its graduated rates (a top rate near 4% after recent cuts) and has not adopted a matching state deduction. Consult a tax professional to confirm eligibility.