Average weekly wages rise in the Fort Smith region
All six Arkansas and Oklahoma counties in the Fort Smith region posted average weekly wage gains in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter in 2024. Crawford County was the only county among the six to post a decline in total wages paid during the quarter.
The fourth quarter wage and business information is the latest available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Average weekly wages during the quarter range between $1,109 in Sebastian County to $835 in Sequoyah County in Oklahoma.
Crawford County’s total wages paid decline was driven by a significant decline in jobs during the quarter. December jobs in the county totaled 18,019, down 7.3% compared with December 2024, according to the BLS. At 7.6%, Sequoyah County posted the largest gain in total wages paid during the fourth quarter.
Of the combined 7,896 business establishments in the six counties, Sebastian County accounted for 48.8% of the establishments.
Following are business establishment numbers, average weekly wages, and total wages paid in the quarter. The counties are listed according to the average weekly wage amount. The percentage shows the change compared with the fourth quarter of 2024.
Arkansas
Q4 2025 Establishments: 113,046 (6.7%)
Q4 2025 Average weekly wages: $1,213 (5%)
Q4 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $20.796 billion (5.6%)
Sebastian County
Q4 2025 Establishments: 3,852 (2.2%)
Q4 2025 Average weekly wages: $1,109 (4.1%)
Q4 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $979.821 million (3.2%)
Crawford County
Q4 2025 Establishments: 1,355 (4%)
Q4 2025 Average weekly wages: $1,027 (4.6%)
Q4 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $240.501 million (-3%)
Franklin County
Q4 2025 Establishments: 389 (-1.7%)
Q4 2025 Average weekly wages: $912 (4%)
Q4 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $58.401 million (1.4%)
Le Flore County (Oklahoma)
Q4 2025 Establishments: 1,027 (-1.1%)
Q4 2025 Average weekly wages: $862 (5.1%)
Q4 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $137.147 million (6.6%)
Logan County
Q4 2025 Establishments: 478 (4.6%)
Q4 2025 Average weekly wages: $861 (4.2%)
Q4 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $56.95 million (5.1%)
Sequoyah County (Oklahoma)
Q4 2025 Establishments: 795 (2.6%)
Q4 2025 Average weekly wages: $835 (7.5%)
Q4 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $104.349 million (7.6%)