Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

$30,000 a Year After Tax in Arkansas

If you make $30,000 a year living in Arkansas, you will take home $25,328 per year — $2,111 a month — after 2026 federal and state taxes (single filer). Adjust filing status, 401(k), and children below.

$30,000 in Arkansas
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$25,328
per year · effective tax rate 15.6%
$2,111Monthly
$1,055Twice a month
$974Every 2 weeks
$12.18Hourly
  • Federal income tax$1,420
  • Social Security (6.2%)$1,860
  • Medicare (1.45%)$435
  • Arkansas income tax$957
  • Take-home pay$25,328

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.90% state

$30,000 after tax breakdown

YearlyMonthlyBiweekly% of pay
Gross salary $30,000 $2,500 $1,154 100.0%
Federal income tax $1,420 $118 $55 4.7%
Social Security $1,860 $155 $72 6.2%
Medicare $435 $36 $17 1.5%
Arkansas income tax $957 $80 $37 3.2%
Total tax $4,672 $389 $180 15.6%
Take-home pay $25,328 $2,111 $974 84.4%

By filing status

Single
$25,328
15.6% effective tax
Married, joint
$26,873
10.4% effective tax · one earner
Head of household
$26,163
12.8% effective tax

Is $30,000 enough? A 50/30/20 budget

Applying the popular 50/30/20 rule to your $2,111 monthly take-home pay:

Needs (50%)
$1,055
rent, utilities, groceries, insurance
Wants (30%)
$633
dining, travel, subscriptions
Savings (20%)
$422
emergency fund, retirement, debt

A common affordability rule is to keep rent under 30% of gross pay — about $750 a month on $30,000.

What $30,000 buys in Arkansas cities

The median wage across all jobs in Arkansas is $43,630 (BLS, May 2025), so $30,000 is 31% below the typical Arkansas paycheck and below what three-quarters of workers here earn. Prices vary a lot within the state: Texarkana, TX stretches a paycheck furthest, while Memphis, TN is the costliest.

Metro areaPrice level1-BR rentRent shareLeft after rent / moBuying power*
Memphis, TN92.2$1,13754%$974$27,477
Little Rock, AR89.4$98447%$1,127$28,342
Fayetteville, AR91.4$1,11553%$996$27,725
Fort Smith, AR85.9$71434%$1,397$29,489
Jonesboro, AR85.9$83840%$1,273$29,493
Texarkana, TX84.0$85240%$1,259$30,148
Hot Springs, AR85.7$83440%$1,277$29,544

*Yearly take-home pay (on $30,000, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.

$30,000 after tax: best and worst states

Arkansas ranks #43 of 51 for take-home pay on $30,000. You would keep the most in Alaska ($26,285) and the least in Oregon ($24,490) — a gap of $1,795 a year.

#StateState taxTake-homeMonthlyvs AR
1 Alaska $0 $26,285 $2,190 +$957
1 Florida $0 $26,285 $2,190 +$957
1 Nevada $0 $26,285 $2,190 +$957
1 New Hampshire $0 $26,285 $2,190 +$957
1 North Dakota $0 $26,285 $2,190 +$957
1 South Dakota $0 $26,285 $2,190 +$957
1 Tennessee $0 $26,285 $2,190 +$957
1 Texas $0 $26,285 $2,190 +$957
1 Washington $0 $26,285 $2,190 +$957
1 Wyoming $0 $26,285 $2,190 +$957
43 Arkansas $957 $25,328 $2,111 —
47 Maryland $1,061 $25,224 $2,102 −$104
48 Alabama $1,235 $25,050 $2,088 −$278
49 Massachusetts $1,280 $25,005 $2,084 −$323
50 Illinois $1,340 $24,945 $2,079 −$383
51 Oregon $1,795 $24,490 $2,041 −$838

About Arkansas taxes

Arkansas uses a graduated income tax with 2 brackets, rising to a top rate of 3.90% for single filers on taxable income above $4,600. The state allows a $2,470 standard deduction for single filers ($4,940 for married couples), plus a $29 personal exemption credit.

A raise to $35,000 would add $3,823 to your yearly take-home pay in Arkansas — you keep 76% of the extra $5,000.

Frequently asked questions

How much is $30,000 a year after taxes in Arkansas?

A single filer earning $30,000 in Arkansas takes home about $25,328 a year in 2026 after $4,672 in federal, state, Social Security and Medicare taxes — an effective tax rate of 15.6%.

How much is $30,000 a year per month after taxes in Arkansas?

About $2,111 per month, $1,055 twice a month, or $974 per biweekly paycheck for a single filer.

What hourly wage is $30,000 a year?

$30,000 a year is $14.42 an hour before tax at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours). After tax in Arkansas it works out to about $12.18 an hour.

Is $30,000 a good salary in Arkansas?

It depends heavily on where in Arkansas you live and your household size. Compare it with typical pay and living costs for your city on our cost-of-living pages. As a rule of thumb, the 50/30/20 budget on this take-home pay leaves about $1,055 a month for needs, $633 for wants and $422 for savings.

Nearby salaries in Arkansas