Police Officer Salary in Arkansas (2026)

Worth knowing: Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System APERS + AR State Police Retirement ASRS + AR IS a Right-to-Work state (1944 — one of the earliest US RTW states alongside FL) is the structural foundation of AR career police compensation and a distinctive AR police officer feature most national surveys understate. APERS (the AR statewide public pension covering ~180K active + retired APERS members + the substantial APLFR Arkansas Local Police & Fire Retirement Plan + ASRS Arkansas State Police Retirement System separate + the substantial APERS defined-benefit + the substantial APERS funded ratio above 80%) provides protective service pension at AR public-safety formula appreciably more generous than APERS State + Local Government — supporting career police retirement after 25 years. AR IS a Right-to-Work state (signed 1944 + one of the substantial earliest US RTW states alongside FL + the substantial AR Amendment 34 1944 constitutional RTW) — meaning collective bargaining for public-sector employees is significantly limited; the substantial AR Fraternal Order of Police FOP + Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police Lodge + Arkansas State Troopers Association ASTA + the substantial AR CLEST Commission on Law Enforcement Standards & Training certification operate via professional associations rather than formal collective bargaining. Bentonville + Rogers NW Arkansas police (the substantial Bentonville Walmart HQ + Crystal Bridges + the substantial Walton family security + the substantial Rogers Pinnacle Hills + the substantial post-2020 NW Arkansas Walmart vendor UHNW migration calls-for-service growth) supports unique AR wealthy-suburb police market — Bentonville senior officers clear $62-92K. Little Rock AFB Security Forces (the substantial 314th Security Forces Squadron + the substantial Little Rock AFB C-130 force protection + the substantial Little Rock AFB cleared facility security) + Pine Bluff Arsenal cleared security (the substantial Pine Bluff Arsenal chemical weapons demilitarization security + the substantial Pine Bluff cleared facility) supports specialized AR federal cleared LE work. Post-2020 Little Rock + Fort Smith + Pine Bluff recruitment + retention challenges drove substantial signing bonus + retention bonus + lateral transfer incentives — LRPD post-2022 offered $10K-$15K lateral signing bonuses to certified officers. The 2025 OBBBA No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies through 2028 — AR OBBBA OT applies to officer overtime + detail premium pay. AR progressive 2.0-3.9% (post-2024 reductions) + AR 6.5% sales tax + AR NO estate tax + AR IS a Right-to-Work state + APERS Public Safety + ASP Retirement + Little Rock AFB Security Forces + Pine Bluff Arsenal cleared security anchor the AR police officer proposition.