Arkansas Employment Law: Wages, Final Pay, Breaks and Your Rights at Work
Arkansas employment law: minimum wage, overtime, breaks, final paycheck deadlines, PTO payout, sick leave, at-will exceptions and where to file a wage claim.
Quick answers for Arkansas
- Minimum wage
- $11.00 per hour, in effect since January 1, 2021. The state minimum wage law covers employers with 4 or more employees. No further increase is scheduled. Arkansas Minimum Wage Act; Arkansas Division of Labor, Minimum Wage and Overtime
- Final paycheck if fired or laid off
- By the next regular payday. An employer that still has not paid within 7 days after that payday owes the employee double the wages due. Ark. Code § 11-4-405
- Meal and rest breaks
- No state requirement for adults. U.S. Department of Labor state meal period table (no Arkansas requirement listed)
- Unused vacation / PTO payout
- Only if the employer's policy promises it. To claim unpaid vacation, sick, holiday, bonus or severance pay through the Division of Labor, the worker must provide a copy of the company policy showing it is payable. Arkansas Division of Labor, Wage Claims
Last verified: 2026-10-26
Pay
| Minimum wage | $11.00 per hour, in effect since January 1, 2021. The state minimum wage law covers employers with 4 or more employees. No further increase is scheduled. |
|---|---|
| Tipped minimum wage | Tipped employees must be paid at least $2.63 per hour in cash wages, and tips must bring them up to at least $11.00 per hour. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference. |
| Overtime | Time-and-a-half for hours actually worked over 40 in a workweek for non-exempt employees. Paid time off such as holidays or sick days does not count as hours worked. No daily overtime rule. |
| How often you must be paid | Corporations doing business in Arkansas must pay employees at least twice a month (semimonthly). Corporations with at least $500,000 in annual gross income may pay certain exempt executive and management employees earning over $25,000 a year once a month. Arkansas Code text read on a public code mirror (FindLaw), because the official Arkansas Code is published through LexisNexis. Source: Ark. Code § 11-4-401 |
Breaks and leave
| Meal and rest breaks | No state requirement for adults. |
|---|
Leaving a job
| Final paycheck if fired or laid off | By the next regular payday. An employer that still has not paid within 7 days after that payday owes the employee double the wages due. Arkansas Code text read on a public code mirror (FindLaw), because the official Arkansas Code is published through LexisNexis. Source: Ark. Code § 11-4-405 |
|---|---|
| Unused vacation / PTO payout | Only if the employer's policy promises it. To claim unpaid vacation, sick, holiday, bonus or severance pay through the Division of Labor, the worker must provide a copy of the company policy showing it is payable. |
| Unemployment benefits | File with the Arkansas Division of Reemployment online at ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov, or call 844-908-2178. You must verify your identity with a valid photo ID, create an Arkansas LAUNCH account, and certify each week that you are unemployed. |
Firing, retaliation and discrimination
| Job discrimination complaints | The Arkansas Civil Rights Act covers employers with 9 or more employees in Arkansas. Claims are brought by lawsuit: within one year after the discrimination, or within 90 days after receiving a federal EEOC right-to-sue letter, whichever is later. Damage caps depend on employer size. Arkansas Code text read on a public code mirror (FindLaw), because the official Arkansas Code is published through LexisNexis. |
|---|---|
| Non-compete agreements | Enforceable by statute if tied to an employment relationship, supported by a protectable business interest (such as trade secrets, customer lists, customer goodwill or confidential information), and limited in time and scope. A restriction of two years after employment ends is presumed reasonable. Courts must narrow an overbroad agreement rather than throw it out, and continued employment counts as enough consideration. The statute does not apply to people holding certain professional licenses. Arkansas Code text read on a public code mirror (FindLaw), because the official Arkansas Code is published through LexisNexis. Source: Ark. Code § 4-75-101 |
Where to get help in Arkansas
Employment Law FAQ
What is the minimum wage in Arkansas?
$11.00 per hour, in effect since January 1, 2021. The state minimum wage law covers employers with 4 or more employees. No further increase is scheduled.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Arkansas?
Tipped employees must be paid at least $2.63 per hour in cash wages, and tips must bring them up to at least $11.00 per hour. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
What are the overtime rules in Arkansas?
Time-and-a-half for hours actually worked over 40 in a workweek for non-exempt employees. Paid time off such as holidays or sick days does not count as hours worked. No daily overtime rule.
Are breaks required by law in Arkansas?
No state requirement for adults.
When do I get my final paycheck if I'm fired in Arkansas?
By the next regular payday. An employer that still has not paid within 7 days after that payday owes the employee double the wages due.
Does an employer have to pay out unused PTO in Arkansas?
Only if the employer's policy promises it. To claim unpaid vacation, sick, holiday, bonus or severance pay through the Division of Labor, the worker must provide a copy of the company policy showing it is payable.
How often must employees be paid in Arkansas?
Corporations doing business in Arkansas must pay employees at least twice a month (semimonthly). Corporations with at least $500,000 in annual gross income may pay certain exempt executive and management employees earning over $25,000 a year once a month.
Where do I file a job discrimination complaint in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Civil Rights Act covers employers with 9 or more employees in Arkansas. Claims are brought by lawsuit: within one year after the discrimination, or within 90 days after receiving a federal EEOC right-to-sue letter, whichever is later. Damage caps depend on employer size.
Are non-compete agreements enforceable in Arkansas?
Enforceable by statute if tied to an employment relationship, supported by a protectable business interest (such as trade secrets, customer lists, customer goodwill or confidential information), and limited in time and scope. A restriction of two years after employment ends is presumed reasonable. Courts must narrow an overbroad agreement rather than throw it out, and continued employment counts as enough consideration. The statute does not apply to people holding certain professional licenses.
How do I apply for unemployment in Arkansas?
File with the Arkansas Division of Reemployment online at ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov, or call 844-908-2178. You must verify your identity with a valid photo ID, create an Arkansas LAUNCH account, and certify each week that you are unemployed.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.