Careers in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Part of Arkansas.
Fort Smith, AR-OK’s regional price level is below the national average (index 85.888, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).
Unemployment rate: 4.4% · 99,923 people employed (2026-06, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).
Highest-Paying Careers
See full list →- 1Physicians, All Other$258,130
- 2Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$170,960
- 3Dentists, General$165,060
- 4Pharmacists$133,520
- 5Architectural and Engineering Managers$131,100
Largest Occupations
See full list →- 1Retail Salespersons2,880 employed
- 2Fast Food and Counter Workers2,760 employed
- 3General and Operations Managers2,320 employed
- 4Home Health and Personal Care Aides2,240 employed
- 5Stockers and Order Fillers2,240 employed
Highest Concentration
See full list →- 1Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers23.22× national avg
- 2Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners9.85× national avg
- 3Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders8.83× national avg
- 4Machine Feeders and Offbearers8.81× national avg
- 5Slaughterers and Meat Packers7.09× national avg
Best Purchasing Power
See full list →cost-of-living adjusted
- 1Physicians, All Other$300,543
- 2Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$199,050
- 3Dentists, General$192,181
- 4Pharmacists$155,458
- 5Architectural and Engineering Managers$152,641
Sources
Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score isn’t available at the metro level yet — see Arkansas state page.