Under Arkansas overtime laws you earn after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate, and no daily overtime in Arkansas — only the weekly total counts. The minimum wage is $11.00 (employers of 4 or more). This guide gives the exact arkansas overtime laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next.
Rules verified against Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing or an attorney before you rely on it.
Arkansas Overtime Laws at a Glance
| Minimum wage | $11.00 (employers of 4 or more) |
| Weekly overtime | After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Arkansas — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | Yes |
In This Arkansas Overtime Laws Guide:
Arkansas Overtime Laws: The Rules
After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Arkansas — only the weekly total counts. The overtime rate is one and a half times your regular rate of pay — the regular rate includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift differentials, not just the base wage.
How to Calculate Overtime Under Arkansas Overtime Laws
Take your total pay for the week, divide by the hours you worked to get the regular rate, and multiply the overtime hours by 1.5 times that rate. A worker paid $11.00 an hour who works 48 hours in a 40-hour state is owed 8 hours at time and a half.
Salary does not mean exempt: a salaried worker below the exemption tests still gets overtime on the hours over the threshold.
Arkansas Overtime Laws at a Glance
Rules verified against Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.
| Minimum wage | $11.00 (employers of 4 or more) |
| Weekly overtime | After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Arkansas — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | Yes |
Who Is Exempt From Arkansas Overtime Laws
Arkansas generally follows the federal exemptions. Salaried executives, administrators and professionals usually don’t get overtime, and neither do outside salespeople or certain agricultural workers. An exempt employee generally has to pass both a duties test and the federal salary-level test, so a job title alone doesn’t make someone exempt.
Daily Overtime and Arkansas Overtime Laws
Arkansas has no daily overtime rule: a 12-hour day in a 36-hour week earns no premium, because only the weekly total counts. Arkansas has no separate law that lets private employers give comp time in place of overtime pay. Federal law generally requires private employers to pay overtime in cash. Comp time is mainly limited to public-sector employers.
Is Overtime Taxed Differently Under Arkansas Overtime Laws?
No — overtime is ordinary wages and is taxed at the same income-tax rates as the rest of your pay; it can push more of your pay into a higher withholding bracket on one check, but the annual tax rate does not change. Arkansas lets employers count part of a tipped worker’s tips toward the minimum wage.
Overtime is still figured on the full state minimum wage, not on the lower cash wage. The tip credit can’t be used to reduce the extra half-time owed for each overtime hour.
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How to Claim Unpaid Overtime Under Arkansas Overtime Laws
An Arkansas worker owed overtime can file a wage claim with the Labor Standards Division of the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, using its online wage claim form or a paper form available by phone, or can file with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. Include your pay stubs, time records and any other documents, because the Division may close a claim that lacks them.
Arkansas sets strict deadlines for wage claims and the state and federal look-back periods differ, so confirm the deadline that applies to you with the agency before you file.
Other Arkansas Overtime Laws Rules to Know
Under the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act, employers must pay one and one-half times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. The state act covers only employers above a minimum number of employees, so smaller employers may be covered only by federal law. Workers may also sue in state court to recover unpaid wages plus attorney’s fees and court costs.
Think you are owed overtime? The wage-claim agency takes the complaint for free.
Arkansas — the bottom line
- Arkansas overtime laws start the premium after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate — count the week, not the day.
- Under arkansas overtime laws the rate is 1.5 times the regular rate, and the regular rate includes your bonuses and differentials.
- Arkansas overtime laws are enforced by a free wage claim — you do not need a lawyer to recover unpaid overtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I get overtime under Arkansas overtime laws?
After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Arkansas — only the weekly total counts.
What is the overtime rate in Arkansas?
One and a half times your regular rate of pay, which includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift pay.
Does Arkansas have daily overtime?
No daily overtime in arkansas — only the weekly total counts.
Can my employer give comp time instead of overtime pay in Arkansas?
Arkansas has no separate law that lets private employers give comp time in place of overtime pay. Federal law generally requires private employers to pay overtime in cash.
How do I claim unpaid overtime in Arkansas?
An Arkansas worker owed overtime can file a wage claim with the Labor Standards Division of the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, using its online wage claim form or a paper form available by phone, or can file with the U.S.
Official Arkansas Sources & Resources
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing: https://www.labor.arkansas.gov/divisions/labor-standards/
- Verified source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov
This arkansas overtime laws guide was last verified against official Arkansas sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Arkansas Workplace Rights Guides
- Arkansas Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
- Arkansas Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
- Arkansas Labor Laws: Every Rule in One Place
- Arkansas Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
- Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.