Arkansas Paycheck Taxes in 2026: What Comes Out of $60,000
Where every dollar of an Arkansas paycheck goes in 2026, with take-home pay at ten salaries and hourly wages, 401(k) effects and the state tax rates.
By Muhammad AhmadPublished Last reviewed 9 min read
Not financial or tax advice. This guide explains how the numbers work, with examples. It cannot know your whole situation, so check big decisions with a licensed professional or the official source. See the disclaimer.
The quick answer
- $60,000 a year in Arkansas takes home $48,263 in 2026 for a single filer: $4,022 a month, or $1,856 every two weeks.
- Where the rest goes: $5,020 federal income tax, $4,590 Social Security and Medicare, and $2,127 Arkansas income tax. Together that is 19.6% of your pay.
- Arkansas income tax is low: 2% on the first $4,600 of taxable income and 3.9% above that, after a $2,470 standard deduction.
- There is no local income tax and no state disability payroll tax to subtract, so FICA and federal tax do most of the work.
- Minimum wage is $11.00 an hour for employers with four or more employees.
If you searched for an Arkansas paycheck calculator, you probably want one number: what actually reaches your bank account. This guide shows where each dollar of an Arkansas paycheck goes in 2026, with the numbers worked out for common salaries and hourly wages. Every figure comes from the same engine as our Arkansas paycheck calculator, so you can enter your own pay and check it.
How much is $60,000 a year after taxes in Arkansas?
For a single filer with no other deductions, a $60,000 salary leaves $48,263 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Arkansas income tax. That is $4,022 a month. If you are paid every two weeks (26 paychecks) each check is about $1,856.26. If you are paid twice a month (24 paychecks), each check is about $2,010.95.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $60,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,020 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$3,720 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$870 |
| Arkansas income tax | −$2,127 |
| Take-home pay | $48,263 |
Single filer, 2026 tax tables, standard deduction, no 401(k) or health insurance deductions.
Arkansas state income tax rate for 2026
Arkansas taxes wages with two rates. The first $4,600 of taxable income is taxed at 2%, and everything above that is taxed at 3.9%. Taxable income is your pay minus the Arkansas standard deduction, which is $2,470 for a single filer and $4,940 for a married couple filing jointly. Arkansas also gives a personal tax credit of $29 for you and for each dependent, which comes straight off the tax.
On a $60,000 salary that works out to $2,127 a year, or about 3.5% of your pay. Arkansas cities and counties do not add a wage tax on top. For the full bracket table and the neighbours, see the Arkansas page of the paycheck calculator.
Arkansas take-home pay by salary
Here is what a single filer keeps at common salaries. The last two columns show the monthly amount and a paycheck every two weeks.
| Salary | Federal tax | Social Security and Medicare | Arkansas tax | Take-home | Per month | Every two weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $957 | $25,328 | $2,111 | $974 |
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $1,347 | $32,973 | $2,748 | $1,268 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $1,737 | $40,618 | $3,385 | $1,562 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $2,127 | $48,263 | $4,022 | $1,856 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $2,712 | $58,880 | $4,907 | $2,265 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $3,687 | $75,493 | $6,291 | $2,904 |
The share of your pay that goes to tax rises with income, from 15.6% at $30,000 to 24.5% at $100,000, because federal income tax rises in steps while Social Security and Medicare stay at 7.65%.
Arkansas hourly paycheck: what $15, $20 and $25 an hour takes home
A full-time job is 2,080 hours a year (40 hours for 52 weeks). The table turns each hourly wage into a yearly salary and shows the take-home pay for a single filer. The last column is a semi-monthly paycheck, because the U.S. Department of Labor lists Arkansas as a state that requires semi-monthly paydays.
| Hourly wage | Yearly pay | Take-home a year | Take-home an hour | Per semi-monthly check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $11 | $22,880 | $19,772 | $9.51 | $824 |
| $15 | $31,200 | $26,245 | $12.62 | $1,094 |
| $18 | $37,440 | $31,016 | $14.91 | $1,292 |
| $20 | $41,600 | $34,196 | $16.44 | $1,425 |
| $25 | $52,000 | $42,147 | $20.26 | $1,756 |
| $30 | $62,400 | $50,098 | $24.09 | $2,087 |
Arkansas follows the federal rule for overtime: time and a half after 40 hours in a week for most workers. To see overtime on top of your hourly wage, use the overtime calculator, or turn an hourly wage into a salary with the hourly to salary calculator.
What is deducted from an Arkansas paycheck?
- Federal income tax. Based on your W-4 and the 2026 brackets of 10% to 37%. A single filer has a $16,100 standard deduction.
- Social Security. 6.2% of pay up to $184,500 in 2026.
- Medicare. 1.45% of all pay, plus 0.9% on pay above $200,000 for a single filer.
- Arkansas income tax. 2% and 3.9% after the state standard deduction, using your Arkansas withholding form.
- Your choices. Health insurance premiums, a 401(k) or other retirement plan, and anything else your employer offers.
Arkansas has no state disability insurance and no state paid family leave program that takes money from your paycheck, which is why the list is short compared with states such as California or New York.
How a 401(k) changes your Arkansas paycheck
Contributions to a traditional 401(k) come out before federal and Arkansas income tax, so the tax saving softens the cost. If you put 6% of a $60,000 salary ($3,600) into a traditional 401(k), your take-home pay falls from $48,263 to $45,235, a drop of $3,028 and not $3,600, because you pay $432 less federal tax and $140 less Arkansas tax. Social Security and Medicare still apply to the full $60,000. Our guide to traditional and Roth accounts explains the choice.
Married or with children
Filing status and dependents change the result. In our calculator, a married couple filing jointly with two children on one $60,000 income takes home $53,466, because the larger standard deduction and the child tax credit remove almost all federal income tax. Use the filing status and dependents fields in the calculator, and fill in a new W-4 if your situation changes so your employer withholds the right amount.
Arkansas minimum wage and paydays in 2026
Arkansas sets its minimum wage at $11.00 an hour for employers with four or more employees. At 2,080 hours a year that is $22,880 before tax, and $19,772 after federal, FICA and state tax for a single filer. The Department of Labor lists Arkansas as requiring semi-monthly paydays, so many workers receive 24 paychecks a year, though your employer may use another schedule that complies with the law.
Sales tax is part of the picture
State income tax is only part of what Arkansas takes. The state sales tax is 6.5%, and with local sales taxes the average combined rate is 9.46% according to the Tax Foundation, one of the highest in the country. If you compare Arkansas with a state that has no income tax, remember that a state may make up the difference through sales or property taxes.
How to check your own paycheck
- Open the Arkansas paycheck calculator and enter your gross pay and how often you are paid.
- Choose your filing status and add any 401(k) percentage.
- Compare each line with your latest pay stub. A difference of a few dollars is normal, because employers use IRS withholding tables and rounding.
- If the federal amount is far off, review your W-4 or try the paycheck calculator with extra withholding.
- Planning a raise or a new job? Use the pay raise calculator to see what you would actually take home.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do you pay on $50,000 in Arkansas?
A single filer pays about $9,382 in total tax on $50,000: $3,820 federal income tax, $3,825 Social Security and Medicare and $1,737 Arkansas income tax. Take-home pay is $40,618.
Does Arkansas have a state income tax?
Yes. It has two rates, 2% and 3.9%, applied to taxable income after a standard deduction.
Is Arkansas tax friendly for workers?
Its income tax rate is low compared with most states, but its combined sales tax is high. Whether it suits you depends on how much you earn and spend.
Why is my paycheck smaller than the calculator?
Your pay stub may include health insurance, retirement contributions, union dues or garnishments. The calculator shows tax only unless you add a 401(k) percentage.
Are the numbers different for 2027?
Possibly. Federal brackets change each January, and states can change rates or deductions. We update the calculators when the new figures are published.
The bottom line
An Arkansas paycheck is simpler than most: federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and a low state income tax. A $60,000 salary becomes $48,263 a year, and every extra raise keeps roughly three quarters of its value. Run your own pay through the calculator and compare it with your pay stub.
Sources
- State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026, Tax Foundation
- Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 inflation adjustments), Internal Revenue Service
- Contribution and benefit base, Social Security Administration
- State minimum wage laws and state payday requirements, U.S. Department of Labor
- State and Local Sales Tax Rates, 2026, Tax Foundation
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
Take-home pay is for a single filer with the 2026 standard deduction and no other deductions unless stated. Estimates for planning, not tax advice. Last reviewed October 27, 2026.
Overtime Pay Calculator
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This guide is for education, not financial, tax or medical advice. See our editorial policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell me.