Weekly wages up 4.2% in Arkansas, Benton County leads with 13.4% wage gain

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by Michael Tilley ([email protected]) ago 31 views 

Average weekly wages rose 4.2% in Arkansas during the 2025 second quarter compared with the same quarter in 2024, and all but one of the state’s top five counties in terms of total wages showed quarterly gains in average weekly wages and total wages paid.

The data comes from the quarterly wage report posted Friday (Dec. 19) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The average weekly wage in the United States in the second quarter of 2025 was $1,436, up 3.3% compared with the same quarter in 2024.

Arkansas outperformed all but one of its neighbor states in terms of percentage increase in average weekly wages between the second quarter of 2024 and the same quarter in 2025. Following are the state comparisons ranked by percentage gain.

  • Arkansas: $1,118, up 4.2%
  • Mississippi: $999, up 4.2%
  • Missouri: $1,232, up 4%
  • Tennessee: $1,297, up 3.8%
  • Oklahoma: $1,137, up 3.4%
  • Texas: $1,420, up 3%
  • Louisiana: $1,176, up 2.8%

BUSINESS NUMBERS
The BLS report also showed a 7.9% increase in the number of business establishments in Arkansas between the second quarter of 2024 and second quarter of 2025. The number of businesses in the state has increased 17.6% since the second quarter of 2020, according to the BLS report.

Among Arkansas’ top five counties in terms of total wages paid in the quarter, Benton County had the largest gains in total wages paid and average weekly wages. Of the top five, only Sebastian County posted declines in total wages paid and average weekly wages in the second quarter compared with the same quarter in 2024.

Among the top five counties, Benton County also had the largest percentage gain in the number of businesses. The Northwest Arkansas county had a gain of 10.1% in businesses between the second quarter of 2024 and second quarter of 2025.

SECOND QUARTER DATA
Following are the wage and business establishment numbers from the BLS in the second quarter of 2025 for Arkansas and the top five counties. The counties are ranked by total wages paid in the quarter. The percentage shows the change compared with the second quarter of 2024.
Arkansas
Q2 2025 Establishments: 109,356 (7.9%)
Q2 2025 Average weekly wages: $1,436 (4.2%)
Q2 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $19.064 billion (5.1%)

Pulaski County
Q2 2025 Establishments: 14,672 (4.6%)
Q2 2025 Average weekly wages: $1,218 (3%)
Q2 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $4.165 billion (3.5%)

Benton County
Q2 2025 Establishments: 9,049 (10.1%)
Q2 2025 Average weekly wages: $1,482 (13.4%)
Q2 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $2.902 billion (18.5%)

Washington County
Q2 2025 Establishments: 7,442 (7.6%)
Q2 2025 Average weekly wages: $1,110 (2.6%)
Q2 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $1.773 billion (4.05%)

Sebastian County
Q2 2025 Establishments: 3,778 (2%)
Q2 2025 Average weekly wages: $1,061 (-2.5%)
Q2 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $934.958 million (-2.4%)

Craighead County
Q2 2025 Establishments: 3,073 (3.7%)
Q2 2025 Average weekly wages: $1,024 (3.1%)
Q2 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $737.442 million (3.8%)