Department Head Salary in Arkansas

How much does a Department Head make in Arkansas?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Department Head in Arkansas is $58,278 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, a Department Head's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,967
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,881 to $63,873
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,057
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
Smart Recruiting
View as table View as graph 25% $51,881 10% $46,057 90% $68,967 75% $63,873 $58,278 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Department Head Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $63,873 $5,323 $1,228 $31
Average $58,278 $4,856 $1,121 $28
25th Percentile $51,881 $4,323 $998 $25
Check out Department Head Job Openings in Arkansas
Department Head of Business

Confidential - Fort Smith, AR

Department Head of Engineering

Confidential - Fort Smith, AR

Department Head of Computer Science

Confidential - Fort Smith, AR

Search More Department Head Jobs in Arkansas

Key Factors That Influence Department Head Salaries

A Department Head's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Department Head Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Department Head's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $49,515
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $59,188
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $57,866
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $66,184
  • Expert (over 8 years): $76,833
Levels Salary
Banking O... Level Department Head$49,515
Banking O... Level Department Head$59,188
Departmen... Level Department Head$57,866
Banking O... Level Department Head$66,184
Banking O... Level Department Head$76,833
$49,515 0 yr
$59,188 < 2 yrs
$57,866 2-4 yrs
$66,184 5-8 yrs
$76,833 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Department Heads

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • Star City: $57,324
  • Wesley: $58,215
  • West Fork: $58,585

Department Head Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Department Head roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Department Head positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Department Head as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Department Head

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$81,589$39.040%
Insurance$69,933$34.020%

Department Head Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Department Head's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Find Your Next Department Head Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Department Head job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Confidential

    Fort Smith, AR

    Confidential | Fort Smith, AR

    Department Head & Leadership Endowed Chair, Computer Science. About the Company. Dynamic public university. Industry. Higher Education. Type. Educational I... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Jazz Pharmaceuticals

    EAST PALO ALTO, CA

    Jazz Pharmaceuticals | EAST PALO ALTO, CA

    If you are a current Jazz employee please apply via the Internal Career site. Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innova... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Jazz Pharmaceuticals

    MIDDLE WEST, PA

    Jazz Pharmaceuticals | MIDDLE WEST, PA

    If you are a current Jazz employee please apply via the Internal Career site. Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innova... more

    5 Days Ago

  • UAB Medicine

    BIRMINGHAM, AL

    RN

    UAB Medicine | BIRMINGHAM, AL

    Position Overview Pay range: $30.00 - $48.00 / hour Shifts: full-time AM and PM Schedules: 7 a.m.-7 p.m., 7 p.m.-7 a.m. Benefits and perks available for el... more

    5 Days Ago

  • National Radio Astronomy Observatory

    ALAMEDA, NM

    National Radio Astronomy Observatory | ALAMEDA, NM

    National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: Head of Software Engineering Location: NRAO Array Operations Center, PO Box 0, SOCORRO, New Mexico, United Stat... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort,Disney Vacation Club

    HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC

    Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort,Disney Vacation Club | HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC

    At Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, our part-time Housekeeping Hosts/Hostesses do so much more than keep guests’ rooms impeccably clean. They draw upon ... more

    1 Month Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Arkansas

Cost of Living in Arkansas is
-9.7% Lower
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst