Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay range in Fort Smith
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,380 or more. The middle half of kindergarten teachers (except special education) in Fort Smith earn between $50,990 and $65,710.
- $49K10th
- $51K25th
- $59KMedian
- $66K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,830 | $5,152 | — |
| Median | $59,050 | $4,921 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,990 | $4,249 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,710 | $5,476 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Fort Smith vs. Arkansas and the U.S.
Kindergarten teachers (except special education) in Fort Smith earn 12% more than the Arkansas average ($55,220) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($69,370). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $62,680.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $61,830 | $59,050 | $49,230 | $77,380 | 180 |
| Arkansas | $55,220 | $52,060 | $47,240 | $65,710 | 1,490 |
| United States | $69,370 | $62,680 | $46,990 | $101,830 | 108,870 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary after taxes in Fort Smith
On the average salary of $61,830, a single filer in Fort Smith takes home about $50,060 a year, or $4,172 a month and $1,925 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in AR | $50,060 | $4,172 |
| Working in OK | $49,624 | $4,135 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Is Fort Smith a good place for kindergarten teachers (except special education)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fort Smith area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $61,830 buys what about $71,989 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Fort Smith ($39,560). A typical home costs $205,554, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary in other Arkansas cities
Fort Smith ranks 1st of 5 Arkansas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Fort Smith$61,830
- Fayetteville$61,820
- Hot Springs$55,330
- Jonesboro$54,560
- Little Rock$53,650
All Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salaries in Arkansas
Highest-paying cities for kindergarten teachers (except special education)
Modesto, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,550).
- Modesto, CA$107,550
- Seattle, WA$101,370
- El Centro, CA$101,090
- Mount Vernon, WA$100,150
- Visalia, CA$99,130
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary by city
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Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary in Fort Smith: questions
What is the entry-level kindergarten teachers (except special education) salary in Fort Smith?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the kindergarten teachers (except special education) take-home pay in Fort Smith?
About $50,060 a year ($4,172 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,830. Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Do kindergarten teachers (except special education) earn more in Fort Smith than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($69,370).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-2012; area Fort Smith, AR-OK (22900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.64, this job is 2.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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