Employment & Worker Protection · Arkansas
Arkansas Minimum Wage Act
A.C.A. 11-4-203 - enacted in Arkansas.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2019
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 17/100
- Arkansas strictness
The bottom line
Arkansas Minimum Wage Act is an enacted law in Arkansas, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2023-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 17/100
- Arkansas strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Arkansas legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Arkansas Minimum Wage Act
Arkansas Minimum Wage Act (A.C.A. 11-4-203) is an enacted law in Arkansas under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2019-01-01 and becomes effective on 2023-01-01. Arkansas currently reports 1 tracked regulations with 1 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 17/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Arkansas within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in A.C.A. 11-4-203 itself.
Applicability under Arkansas Minimum Wage Act: Employers with 4+ employees in Arkansas. Penalty exposure is documented as: Department of Labor enforcement. Back pay recovery. Notable exemptions: Agriculture, domestic service in private homes (limited), outside salespeople..
Summary
Arkansas minimum wage $11.00/hr. State increased rate above federal in 2015.
Key Requirements
$11.00/hr. Tipped wage: $2.63/hr with tip credit to $11.00. Agricultural workers exempt.
Penalties
Department of Labor enforcement. Back pay recovery.
Applicability
Employers with 4+ employees in Arkansas.
Exemptions
Agriculture, domestic service in private homes (limited), outside salespeople.
Official Source
https://www.labor.ar.gov/minimum-wageHow Arkansas compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Arkansas ranks #38 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Arkansas is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Arkansas Minimum Wage Act enacted?
Arkansas Minimum Wage Act was enacted on 2019-01-01 and became effective on 2023-01-01. It was introduced as A.C.A. 11-4-203.
What are the penalties for violating Arkansas Minimum Wage Act?
Department of Labor enforcement. Back pay recovery. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Arkansas Minimum Wage Act apply to small businesses?
Employers with 4+ employees in Arkansas. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Arkansas compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Arkansas has a regulatory strictness score of 17/100, based on 1 enacted regulation out of 1 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Arkansas Minimum Wage Act?
The official text of Arkansas Minimum Wage Act (A.C.A. 11-4-203) is available from the Arkansas legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Arkansas Minimum Wage Act is enacted in Arkansas, effective 2023-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Arkansas ranks #38 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Arkansas tracks across all five policy areas. Arkansas profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Arkansas source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.