ocity
💰 COL Index: 85 — Very Affordable

Salaries in Fort Smith, AR

Modeled occupation planning estimates with gross-pay and cost-context formulas.

Model generated 2026-02-26 · Methodology reviewed July 16, 2026 · 40 selected occupations

Selected-Role Model Average
$66,354
unweighted modeled medians; not a worker average
Purchasing-Power Model
$77,972
model average ÷ 85.1 × 100
Highest Modeled Role
Marketing Manager
$150,574
City 1BR Rent Reference
$678
monthly context; not a current quote

What does the salary model mean for Fort Smith?

$66,354 is the unweighted arithmetic average of the modeled medians for these 40 selected occupations. It is not an official mean or median for all local workers.

Model average$66,354/year
Gross monthly equivalent$5,530/month
Household income context$54,009

Keep the measures separate: gross monthly salary is before taxes and deductions; household income can include multiple earners; the selected-role model average is not weighted by local employment.

🏆 Highest Modeled Values in This 40-Role Set

Ranked by modeled annual occupation median. These are planning estimates, not direct local OEWS rows.

🥇 -5% vs national

Marketing Manager

$150,574
💡 Purchasing-power model $176,938
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $72.39/hr
National projected growth +8.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
🥈 -5% vs national

Pharmacist

$129,949
💡 Purchasing-power model $152,702
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $62.48/hr
National projected growth -3.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
🥉 -5% vs national

Software Developer

$121,571
💡 Purchasing-power model $142,857
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $58.45/hr
National projected growth +17.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
4️⃣ -5% vs national

Construction Manager

$103,373
💡 Purchasing-power model $121,472
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $49.70/hr
National projected growth +8.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →
5️⃣ -5% vs national

Project Manager

$96,752
💡 Purchasing-power model $113,692
⏱ Hourly modeled equivalent $46.52/hr
National projected growth +6.0%
Career Guide → Best Cities →

📋 Complete Salary Guide — All 40 Occupations in Fort Smith

Purchasing-power equivalent = modeled annual median divided by the planning cost index (85.1/100). It does not estimate taxes or take-home pay. This city cost reference is below 100.

Showing all 40 occupations.

#
1 Marketing Manager $150,574
2 Pharmacist $129,949
3 Software Developer $121,571
4 Construction Manager $103,373
5 Project Manager $96,752
6 Physical Therapist $95,252
7 Financial Analyst $94,584
8 Web Developer $88,604
9 Dental Hygienist $83,617
10 Accountant $82,232
11 Registered Nurse $82,222
12 Data Analyst $79,633
13 Police Officer $71,561
14 Human Resources Specialist $64,626
15 Elementary School Teacher $60,823
16 Plumber $60,518
17 Paralegal $59,945
18 Electrician $58,798
19 Real Estate Agent $58,731
20 Graphic Designer $58,598
21 Firefighter $54,566
22 Carpenter $54,375
23 HVAC Technician $53,181
24 Heavy Truck Driver $50,716
25 Nursing Assistant (CNA) $47,764
26 Pharmacy Technician $47,764
27 Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) $47,764
28 Nail Technician $47,764
29 Cosmetologist $47,764
30 Personal Trainer $47,764
31 Chef/Head Cook $47,764
32 Auto Mechanic $47,764
33 Social Worker $47,764
34 Veterinary Technician $47,764
35 Loan Officer $47,764
36 Insurance Agent $47,764
37 Dental Assistant $47,764
38 Welder $47,373
39 Medical Assistant $36,559
40 Security Guard $34,524

OCity planning estimates. National occupation references are inputs; displayed city values are modeled rather than direct local BLS occupation rows.

Fort Smith salary model: formulas, sources and limitations

Stored occupation model comparison

modeled estimate ÷ stored national reference = row comparison

On this owner, estimate-to-reference ratios are 0.597×–1.432× across occupations. Ratios can vary by occupation, so this is not described as one citywide multiplier or a direct local OEWS download.

Purchasing-power equivalent

modeled estimate ÷ 85.1 × 100

This comparison does not estimate taxes or take-home pay and is not an official BLS adjustment.

Limitations. “Average” is unweighted across selected occupations. Growth fields are national occupation projections, not local forecasts. City and metro geographies can differ. Repeated stored employment counts are not presented as local jobs.
BLS OEWS methodologyBLS national projectionsCensus/ACS income context

Model generated 2026-02-26; methodology reviewed July 16, 2026.

🏙️ Living Costs in Fort Smith

🏠
1BR Rent
$678/mo
🏡
2BR Rent
$891/mo
🏘️
Median Home
$218,000
📉
Unemployment
3.5%
💳
Median Income
$54,009
🎓
College Educated
24%
🚶
Walk Score
35/100
📊
Cost of Living
85
Very Affordable
📊 Full Cost of Living Breakdown → 🏠 Real Estate Market →

🧮 Test Your Fort Smith Budget

Use scenario tools to compare gross pay and city cost context. Results depend on the inputs and do not guarantee take-home pay, housing approval or affordability.

💰 Decode a Job Offer 🔄 Salary Equivalence Calculator 🔍 Career Arbitrage Tool

❓ Fort Smith Salary FAQ

What does the average salary in Fort Smith mean on this page?

▼
$66,354 is the unweighted arithmetic average of the modeled medians for 40 selected occupations. It is not an official mean or median for all Fort Smith workers.

What is the monthly salary estimate in Fort Smith?

▼
The selected-occupation model average equals about $5,530 per month before taxes and deductions. This gross arithmetic conversion is not take-home pay or household income.

What is a good salary in Fort Smith?

▼
There is no universal threshold. Household size, current housing quotes, taxes, debt, benefits, transportation and other recurring costs determine fit. The figures here are planning references, not affordability guarantees.

Are these direct local BLS salary observations for Fort Smith?

▼
No. Each stored city planning estimate is compared with its stored national occupation reference. The estimate-to-reference relationship is 0.597×–1.432× across occupations; it is not represented as one universal city multiplier or a direct local BLS observation.

📝 Planning Takeaways for Fort Smith

Use the occupation rows to compare modeled gross-pay references, not to predict an offer. Validate the exact role, experience level, employer, benefits and location. Then model taxes and current household costs before making a relocation or career decision.

Career Decisions

Make your salary work in Fort Smith

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Career Guides →Cost of Living →Housing Market →Neighborhood Guide →

Explore Fort Smith Further

🏙️ Fort Smith City Overview 💰 Cost of Living 🏠 Real Estate 📊 Browse Salaries by City 💼 All Career Guides 🏘️ Neighborhood Guide 🔍 Career Arbitrage