Pilot Salary in Arkansas (2026)

Worth knowing: Little Rock Air Force Base is the country's most distinctive concentrated US C-130 base + the C-130 Center of Excellence for the Air Force + a feature most national pilot compensation surveys understate for AR. Little Rock AFB Jacksonville (~5K total workforce + the country's largest US Air Force C-130 base + the 19th Airlift Wing operating ~32 C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlift aircraft + the 314th Airlift Wing Air Education and Training Command operating C-130 pilot + loadmaster + navigator + flight engineer training as the only US C-130 training base + the substantial Little Rock AFB serves as the C-130 Center of Excellence for the Air Force + supporting C-130 sustainment + modernization across the Air Force C-130 fleet + the substantial Little Rock AFB Air Mobility Command + AETC + Combat Capability Test Squadron) supports substantial Air Force C-130 pilot operations. Senior Little Rock AFB C-130 pilots clear $115-185K+ flight pay. Arkansas Air National Guard 188th Wing Fort Smith (post-2016 F-16 Fighting Falcon → MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft transition + the substantial AR ANG RPA-only unit + ~1.2K Fort Smith ANG workforce) supports substantial AR ANG RPA pilot operations + the substantial post-USAF + post-USN AR pilot transitions to major airline + regional + Walmart + Tyson + JB Hunt corporate aviation. The substantial Walmart corporate aviation Bentonville (the substantial Walmart-fleet of corporate jets including Gulfstream + Bombardier + Cessna + the substantial Walmart helicopter operations + the substantial Walmart-Bentonville-XNA-based corporate flight department supporting Walmart executive + supplier travel + the substantial post-2010 Walmart corporate aviation expansion) supports substantial AR corporate pilot operations. Tyson + JB Hunt + ArcBest + Dillard's corporate aviation contribute. Northwest Arkansas National Airport XNA Bentonville (substantial commercial passenger operations + Walmart-driven business travel hub + Delta + American + United + Allegiant + Frontier commercial service) + Clinton National Airport LIT Little Rock supports substantial AR commercial pilot base + commuter operations. AR progressive 2-4.4% top phasing 3.9% by 2026 + AR RTW since 1947 + AR property tax ~0.61% + no state estate tax + lower AR cost of living anchor the AR pilot proposition. Pilot is an FLSA-exempt salaried profession + OBBBA No Tax on Overtime federal deduction does not apply.