What this means Our calculation
2 of 32 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is electrical lineworkers at $106,960. Prices run 11% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is about the same as most metros (3.9%) and the population is growing at a typical pace (+3.8% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Little Rock Government data
All 32 trades
Vs. U.S. compares with the typical metro for that trade. Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Click a column to sort.
| Trade | Median pay | Vs. U.S. | Real pay | Jobs | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Lineworker | $106,960 | +10% | $119,690 | 350 | #68 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $63,190 | -5% | $70,711 | 490 | #141 |
| Construction Supervisor | $61,060 | -21% | $68,327 | 1,720 | #375 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $59,940 | -6% | $67,074 | 900 | #319 |
| Brickmason | $58,510 | -7% | $65,474 | 70 | #100 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $57,300 | -5% | $64,120 | 950 | #287 |
| Machinist | $54,930 | -4% | $61,468 | 340 | #222 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $54,560 | +6% | $61,054 | 290 | #148 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $51,510 | -17% | $57,641 | 390 | #302 |
| Building Inspector | $50,880 | -24% | $56,936 | 260 | #320 |
| Plumber | $49,190 | -20% | $55,045 | 890 | #357 |
| Electrician | $48,200 | -23% | $53,937 | 1,870 | #369 |
| Carpenter | $48,050 | -14% | $53,769 | 1,080 | #315 |
| HVAC Technician | $48,000 | -19% | $53,713 | 1,470 | #362 |
| Welder | $47,440 | -9% | $53,086 | 1,190 | #333 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $46,850 | -24% | $52,426 | 380 | #244 |
| Ironworker | $46,660 | -27% | $52,213 | 310 | #147 |
| Insulation Installer | $46,650 | -3% | $52,202 | 170 | #76 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $46,550 | -7% | $52,090 | 140 | #113 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $46,290 | -22% | $51,799 | 1,230 | #366 |
| Auto Mechanic | $46,130 | -6% | $51,620 | 2,160 | #320 |
| Concrete Finisher | $46,040 | -20% | $51,520 | 420 | #283 |
| Maintenance Technician | $45,270 | -6% | $50,658 | 2,760 | #310 |
| Fence Installer | $45,070 | -7% | $50,434 | 90 | #38 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $45,060 | -11% | $50,423 | 60 | #106 |
| Glazier | $44,700 | -19% | $50,020 | 160 | #146 |
| Painter | $44,660 | -6% | $49,975 | 250 | #275 |
| Drywall Installer | $44,570 | -17% | $49,875 | 60 | #157 |
| Pest Control Technician | $37,310 | -16% | $41,751 | 310 | #213 |
| Construction Laborer | $37,190 | -21% | $41,616 | 2,790 | #352 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $36,540 | -24% | $40,889 | 110 | #133 |
| Landscaper | $36,490 | -3% | $40,833 | 1,670 | #265 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Little Rock
The Little Rock area has about 350,573 homes. 36% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 19% were built in 2010 or later. 64% of households own their home, and the median home value is $237,300.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Little Rock Government data
In an average year, Little Rock has 76 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 8 at 100°F or more, 50 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 71 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 4 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 90°F and winter nights 33°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Little Rock Airport Adams Fld, AR station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
3.9% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Little Rock area's population grew 3.8% from 2020 to 2025 (748,989 → 777,607), ranking #132 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +25,364) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Little Rock are down 14% from 2021 to 2025 (3,635 → 3,142). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Little Rock area is 23 minutes each way, about the same as the typical metro (24 min). 11% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 78% drive alone, 0% take transit and 11% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in Arkansas Official source
The main state licensing office in Arkansas is the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. Home of the Contractors Licensing Board; some trades are licensed by other state agencies. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official Arkansas licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 2.8% of wage and salary workers in Arkansas were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#48 of 51 states and D.C.), and 3.5% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only the trades.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Nearby metros
Compare any trade in two cities with city vs. city, or see every metro in Arkansas.