Registered Nurse Salary in Little Rock, AR
Registered Nurses in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area earn a median $81,070 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,914 take-home, or $5,243 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Little Rock, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,005
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,026
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,176
- Arkansas income tax$2,949
- Take-home pay$62,914
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.90% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Little Rock, AR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,270 | $28.98 | $48,469 | $4,039 |
| 25th percentile | $74,770 | $35.95 | $58,727 | $4,894 |
| Median (50th) | $81,070 | $38.98 | $62,914 | $5,243 |
| 75th percentile | $94,840 | $45.60 | $72,064 | $6,005 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $114,190 | $54.90 | $84,922 | $7,077 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,070 buys in Little Rock, AR
Prices in Little Rock, AR are 10.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $62,914 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,402 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Little Rock, AR has 1.5× the national concentration of registered nurse jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Little Rock, AR ranks #239 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 239 | Little Rock, AR | $81,070 | $62,914 | $70,402 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Arkansas
- Fort Smith, AR — $79,870
- Jonesboro, AR — $78,940
- Hot Springs, AR — $78,590
- Fayetteville, AR — $77,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Little Rock, AR?
The median registered nurse salary in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area is $81,070 a year, or about $38.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $74,770 and $94,840.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Little Rock, AR?
On the median $81,070 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $62,914 a year ($5,243 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,949 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Little Rock, AR a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 10.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,402 would in a typical U.S. city. Little Rock, AR ranks #239 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Little Rock, AR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Little Rock, AR is $984 a month ($1,143 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Little Rock, AR
- Pharmacist — $136,700
- Nurse Practitioner — $126,680
- Occupational Therapist — $104,680
- Physical Therapist — $99,940
- Dental Hygienist — $89,160
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $86,380
- Respiratory Therapist — $75,300
- Physicians, All Other — $74,500
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $73,830
- Surgical Technologist — $60,910
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $59,240
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $52,120