The minimum wage in Little Rock is $11.00/hour in 2026. See how it compares to the MIT living wage of $18.50/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 Little Rock.
The minimum wage in Little Rock is the Arkansas statewide minimum of $11.00/hour. Little Rock 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 Little Rock. With average 1-bedroom rent near $950/month and a cost-of-living index of 85 (US average = 100), the gap between the minimum wage and a true living wage is significant.
| Benchmark (Little Rock, 2026) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $11.00 | $22,880 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $18.50 | $38,480 |
| MIT living wage (family of four, one earner) | $38.00 | $79,040 |
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25 | $15,080 |
| Average rent (1-bedroom, annual) | - | $11,400 |
Living wage figures: MIT Living Wage Calculator for Pulaski County. Minimum wage reflects the rate applicable to most private employers in Little Rock.
Little Rock is the capital and largest city in Arkansas, on the Arkansas River, with an economy anchored by state government, healthcare and the UAMS medical center, finance, and the headquarters of several national companies.
| Local Metric | Little Rock (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 200,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Pulaski County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 85 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $18.50/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $38.00/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $11.00/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $950/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,150/month |
| Median home price | $210,000 |
| Median household income | $55,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 9% |
| 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 Little Rock is the Arkansas statewide minimum of $11.00/hour. Little Rock 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 Pulaski County needs about $18.50/hour (roughly $38,480/year) to cover basic costs. That is $7.50/hour above the applicable minimum wage, and a one-earner family of four needs closer to $38.00/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 Little Rock is about $950/month, or $11,400/year.
Little Rock 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 Little Rock.