Fort Smith Employment

Employment and Industries in the Fort Smith, Arkansas Area

Fort Smith has for years been a prominent regional manufacturing center. However, a large number of the manufacturing jobs have been relocated overseas. Fort Smith has been ranked number six in the nation regarding the lowest cost of doing business cities. The important elements of the economy are manufacturing, trucking, healthcare, food-processing, tourism, recreation and conventions. A variety of products are produced in Fort Smith including appliances, food products, wood and paper products, composite building materials and air conditioning systems.

The most popular jobs in Fort Smith which are typically filled by college graduates are registered nurses, teachers, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, accountant and auditors and social and human service assistants. Some of the high paying jobs in the region are physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, truck drivers, heavy and tractor trailers; sales managers, purchasing managers and lawyers.

Notable information about Fort Smith: Fort Smith has been mentioned by Forbes as having the lowest cost of living in the nation. For the population over 25 years of age, about 18% have a bachelor's degree or higher. In addition, the daytime population increases by about 35% due to commuters from the surrounding area.

In association with the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, the city offers various types of investment and job creation incentives in order to attract new companies and retain flourishing businesses. Tax Back, InvestArk and Advantage Arkansas are a few of the incentives that are available to businesses. The Arkansas Construction Education Foundation Training Program provides classroom and real-world experience via apprenticeship programs. In addition, the University of Arkansas Fort Smith's Center for Business and Professional Development partners with local businesses with the objective of developing the skills of employees.

The major employers in Fort Smith are:

  • Baldor Electric Company
  • Fort Smith Public Schools
  • O.K. Industries
  • City of Fort Smith
  • Whirlpool
  • Rheem Manufacturing Company
  • Sparks Health System
  • Arkansas Best Corporation
  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith
  • Golden Living
  • St. Edward Mercy Medical Center
  • Hiram Walker
  • Bost
  • Owens-Corning
  • Cooper Clinic
  • Area Agency on Aging
  • Gerber Products
  • Kraft-Planters
  • MacSteel
  • Riverside Furniture
  • The Trane Company
  • Twin Rivers

The list shown below displays the major industries for employment in Fort Smith:

  • Manufacturing
  • Trade, transportation and public utilities
  • Education and health services
  • Government
  • Professional and business services
  • Construction
  • Financial activities

Business organizations offering assistance to Fort Smith companies:

The Times Record is an excellent publication to help individuals keep up-to-date with the business activities in the Fort Smith area.

Jobs in Fort Smith

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations106700$39,700$19.09100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations13190$33,700$16.213.75
3Production Occupations11790$31,640$15.215.6
4Transportation and Material Moving Occupations11710$36,120$17.376.7
5Sales and Related Occupations11430$33,810$16.259.5
6Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations9740$21,580$10.388.7
7Educational Instruction and Library Occupations7480$41,340$19.886
8Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations6740$68,960$33.155.85
9Management Occupations5500$83,420$40.16.35
10Healthcare Support Occupations5150$25,670$12.342.85
11Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations5110$41,280$19.843.75
12Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers4140$48,090$23.121.2
13Construction and Extraction Occupations4010$38,580$18.554.6
14Fast Food and Counter Workers3600$20,490$9.852.45
15Business and Financial Operations Occupations3580$59,620$28.665.35
16Cashiers3110$22,120$10.632.2
17Retail Salespersons3070$26,200$12.62.7
18Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations2590$25,450$12.243.6
19Registered Nurses2310$59,120$28.421.95
20Home Health and Personal Care Aides2260$21,220$10.20
21Office Clerks, General2180$30,560$14.691.9
22Protective Service Occupations2020$35,320$16.982.2
23Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers1860$24,860$11.950.1
24Nursing Assistants1800$24,790$11.920.95
25General and Operations Managers1750$84,730$40.741.5
26Stockers and Order Fillers1740$27,510$13.221.25
27Personal Care and Service Occupations1520$24,440$11.754.65
28Waiters and Waitresses1520$19,400$9.331.65
29Community and Social Service Occupations1500$40,010$19.241.75
30Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1470$27,350$13.151.8
31First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers1350$37,970$18.260.95
32Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1320$35,190$16.921.05
33Customer Service Representatives1250$31,890$15.331.75
34Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1200$25,170$12.11.5
35Computer and Mathematical Occupations1190$68,310$32.843
36First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1170$48,780$23.450.95
37Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1140$30,970$14.891.4
38First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers1080$28,740$13.820.6
39Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses1070$41,740$20.070.5
40Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1030$59,170$28.450.85
41Maintenance and Repair Workers, General970$32,390$15.570.9
42Cooks, Restaurant940$22,560$10.850.9
43First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers930$49,470$23.780.4
44Architecture and Engineering Occupations910$76,020$36.551.7
45Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders840$33,640$16.170.2
46Receptionists and Information Clerks840$26,930$12.950.7
47Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators770$26,940$12.950.8
48Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel730$44,490$21.390.7
49Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners710$22,070$10.610.9
50Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria680$20,380$9.80.3
51Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators680$28,710$13.810.4
52Food Preparation Workers650$21,720$10.440.5
53Industrial Machinery Mechanics640$44,770$21.520.2
54Light Truck Drivers640$31,180$14.990.6
55Tellers640$28,190$13.550.25
56Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers610$30,670$14.740.35
57Medical and Health Services Managers560$84,630$40.690.3
58Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers560$35,670$17.150.4
59Security Guards550$27,310$13.130.7
60Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity540$21,670$10.420.3
61First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers500$57,610$27.70.3
62Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment490$24,590$11.820.3
63Accountants and Auditors480$60,460$29.070.9
64Legal Occupations450$57,280$27.540.8
65Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other450$57,400$27.590.7
66Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations430$41,460$19.931.8
67Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists430$38,790$18.650.2
68Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics420$36,880$17.730.5
69Driver/Sales Workers420$35,230$16.940.3
70Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks420$30,040$14.440.4
71Childcare Workers410$20,370$9.790.7
72Counter and Rental Clerks410$28,660$13.780.3
73Helpers--Production Workers410$29,170$14.020.2
74Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers410$39,820$19.150.3
75First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers400$51,290$24.660.4
76Management Analysts390$57,160$27.480.55
77Machine Feeders and Offbearers380$25,980$12.490
78Financial Managers370$96,810$46.540.4
79First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors370$50,820$24.430.3
80Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other370$40,620$19.530
81Parts Salespersons370$29,310$14.090.2
82Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators350$37,700$18.130.25
83Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations340$53,800$25.870.8
84Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations330$29,110$140.65
85Insurance Sales Agents330$49,750$23.920.3
86Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other330$79,610$38.280.7
87Pharmacy Technicians330$27,740$13.330.3
88Human Resources Specialists320$48,320$23.230.4
89Pharmacists320$132,090$63.510.2
90Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers310$31,870$15.320.2
91Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers310$27,260$13.110.75
92Billing and Posting Clerks300$31,220$15.010.3
93Construction Laborers300$28,950$13.920.9
94Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers300$38,680$18.60.2
95Packers and Packagers, Hand290$26,490$12.740.4
96Dental Assistants280$35,560$17.10.2
97Electricians280$44,790$21.530.45
98Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders280$34,140$16.410.1
99Loan Officers270$67,920$32.650.2
100Printing Press Operators270$41,560$19.980.1
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Fort Smith Colleges
Fort Smith colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Fort Smith Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$39,700106,700
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$33,70013,190
Production Occupations$31,64011,790
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,12011,710
Sales and Related Occupations$33,81011,430
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$21,5809,740
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$41,3407,480
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$68,9606,740
Management Occupations$83,4205,500
Healthcare Support Occupations$25,6705,150
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$41,2805,110
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$48,0904,140
Construction and Extraction Occupations$38,5804,010
Fast Food and Counter Workers$20,4903,600
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$59,6203,580
Cashiers$22,1203,110
Retail Salespersons$26,2003,070
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$25,4502,590
Registered Nurses$59,1202,310
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$21,2202,260
Office Clerks, General$30,5602,180
Protective Service Occupations$35,3202,020
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$24,8601,860
Nursing Assistants$24,7901,800
General and Operations Managers$84,7301,750
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,5101,740
Personal Care and Service Occupations$24,4401,520
Waiters and Waitresses$19,4001,520
Community and Social Service Occupations$40,0101,500
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$27,3501,470
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$37,9701,350
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$35,1901,320
Customer Service Representatives$31,8901,250
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$25,1701,200
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$68,3101,190
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$48,7801,170
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$30,9701,140
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$28,7401,080
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$41,7401,070
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,1701,030
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$32,390970
Cooks, Restaurant$22,560940
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$49,470930
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$76,020910
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$33,640840
Receptionists and Information Clerks$26,930840
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$26,940770
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$44,490730
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$22,070710
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$20,380680

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Fort Smith, Arkansas Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$39,700106,700
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$33,70013,190
Production Occupations$31,64011,790
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,12011,710
Sales and Related Occupations$33,81011,430
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$41,3407,480
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$68,9606,740
Management Occupations$83,4205,500
Healthcare Support Occupations$25,6705,150
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$41,2805,110
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$48,0904,140
Construction and Extraction Occupations$38,5804,010
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$59,6203,580
Retail Salespersons$26,2003,070
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$25,4502,590
Registered Nurses$59,1202,310
Office Clerks, General$30,5602,180
Protective Service Occupations$35,3202,020
General and Operations Managers$84,7301,750
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,5101,740
Community and Social Service Occupations$40,0101,500
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$27,3501,470
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$37,9701,350
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$35,1901,320
Customer Service Representatives$31,8901,250
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$25,1701,200
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$68,3101,190
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$48,7801,170
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$30,9701,140
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$28,7401,080
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$41,7401,070
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,1701,030
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$32,390970
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$49,470930
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$76,020910
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$33,640840
Receptionists and Information Clerks$26,930840
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$26,940770
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$44,490730
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$28,710680
Industrial Machinery Mechanics$44,770640
Light Truck Drivers$31,180640
Tellers$28,190640
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$30,670610
Medical and Health Services Managers$84,630560
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$35,670560
Security Guards$27,310550
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$57,610500
Accountants and Auditors$60,460480
Legal Occupations$57,280450

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