Wage & hour - Arkansas

The following divisions make up Arkansas’ Labor Standards Programs:

• Wage and Hour Division — Administers and enforces the Arkansas labor laws relating to minimum wage, overtime, student learners, child labor, disabled workers and equal pay.
• Private Employment Agency Division — Authorized to license and regulate all private employment agencies in Arkansas.
• Wage Claims Division — Authorized to collect unpaid wages involving $1,000 or less for employees working in the state.
• Prevailing Wage Division — Administers the Arkansas prevailing wage law, which is commonly referred to as the "little Davis-Bacon Act."
• Prevailing Wage Advisory Committee — Comprised of five members representing workers, contractors, and state and local government agencies.

State Child Labor Laws: The Wage and Hour Division issues employment certificates (work permits) for minors, student learner permits, special disability permits, and certificates of eligibility. Certificates of eligibility allow employers to pay full time students 85 percent of the applicable minimum wage to work not more than 20 hours during weeks that schools are in session, or 40 hours during weeks that schools are not in session.

The Arkansas child labor requirements can be found at: www.labor.arkansas.gov/child-labor

State Minimum Wage: Effective July 1, 2024, the state minimum wage is $11.918 per hour.

Effective July 1, 2025, the state minimum wage is $13.00 per hour.

The wage applies to employers of four or more employees. The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

The Arkansas minimum wage requirements can be found at: www.labor.arkansas.gov/minimum-wage-and-overtime

Overtime: Premium pay is required after 40 hours weekly.

Requirements for overtime compensation can be found at: www.labor.arkansas.gov/minimum-wage-and-overtime

State Prevailing Wage: $75,000 is set as the threshold amount for contract coverage under the state prevailing wage law.

Arkansas prevailing wage requirements can be found at: www.labor.arkansas.gov/prevailing-wage-laws-and-regulations.

Contact information

• Arkansas Department of Labor
  Labor Standards Programs
  Wage and Hour Division
  10421 West Markham
  Little Rock, AR 72205
  Phone: 501-682-4500
  Fax: 501-682-4535
  Website: www.labor.arkansas.gov/