
Highest-paying jobs in Fort Smith
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.
In Fort Smith, the annual mean wage is $42,130 or 27.7% lower than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $262,100. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
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#50. Accountants and auditors
- Annual mean salary: $63,640
- #377 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,980
- Employment: 1,318,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,830)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($109,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,540)
#49. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $63,770
- #343 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,970
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,750
- Employment: 3,047,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($155,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($151,640)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($146,360)
#48. Network and computer systems administrators
- Annual mean salary: $63,820
- #364 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,250
- Employment: 316,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($135,440)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,370)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($110,930)

#47. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $64,480
- #211 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,960
- Employment: 278,140
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,800)
#46. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $65,050
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,040
- Employment: 68,060
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($146,700)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($109,450)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($109,310)
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#45. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $65,550
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,560
- Employment: 41,980
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,570)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($77,720)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($77,650)
#44. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- #304 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)
#43. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $66,840
- #209 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,680
- Employment: 78,640
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($137,140)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,080)

#42. Computer systems analysts
- Annual mean salary: $66,910
- #350 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,210
- Employment: 505,150
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,650)
--- Huntsville, AL ($118,690)
#41. Project management specialists
- Annual mean salary: $68,150
- #372 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,420
- Employment: 743,860
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,950)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($130,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($125,330)
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#40. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $68,350
- #207 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,060
- Employment: 123,940
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,490)

#39. Loan officers
- Annual mean salary: $69,060
- #271 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,570
- Employment: 340,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($111,830)
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($106,290)
--- Wilmington, NC ($104,930)
#38. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Annual mean salary: $69,230
- #249 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,740
- Employment: 106,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($111,950)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($108,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,020)

#37. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $69,850
- #262 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,750
- Employment: 266,160
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,760)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($141,470)
--- Iowa City, IA ($138,870)
#36. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $72,660
- #196 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,360
- Employment: 207,190
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($125,750)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($119,320)
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#35. Mechanical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $72,920
- #328 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,000
- Employment: 278,240
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,540)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($128,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,030)

#34. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $73,980
- #258 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,320
- Employment: 243,920
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)
#33. Construction managers
- Annual mean salary: $75,040
- #357 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)

#32. Database administrators
- Annual mean salary: $75,050
- #177 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,550
- Employment: 85,870
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($123,540)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($120,280)
#31. Speech-language pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $75,650
- #246 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $85,820
- Employment: 147,470
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,260)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,120)
--- Salinas, CA ($107,160)
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#30. Financial and investment analysts
- Annual mean salary: $77,340
- #222 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $103,020
- Employment: 291,880
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($135,620)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($133,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,820)
#29. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $79,020
- #284 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $109,920
- Employment: 77,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,440)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($140,390)
#28. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $79,180
- #376 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,130
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)
#27. Computer programmers
- Annual mean salary: $79,260
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,650
- Employment: 152,610
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,220)
--- Dalton, GA ($123,500)
#26. Physical therapists
- Annual mean salary: $80,390
- #359 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,920
- Employment: 225,350
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,370)
--- Midland, TX ($116,880)
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#25. Industrial engineers
- Annual mean salary: $82,210
- #279 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- Employment: 293,950
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($142,770)
--- Midland, TX ($129,440)
--- Billings, MT ($126,170)
#24. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Annual mean salary: $83,500
- #297 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,650
- Employment: 274,710
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,450)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,330)
#23. Civil engineers
- Annual mean salary: $84,120
- #256 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- Employment: 304,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,550)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,120)
#22. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Annual mean salary: $84,400
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,900
- Employment: 100,400
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($120,430)
--- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ($115,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,780)
#21. Occupational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $85,050
- #193 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,470
- Employment: 127,830
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,210)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($113,190)
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#20. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $86,940
- #369 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)
#19. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $87,570
- #314 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- Employment: 132,940
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($167,240)
--- Panama City, FL ($165,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($164,150)
#18. Facilities managers
- Annual mean salary: $87,710
- #217 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,970
- Employment: 101,230
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($146,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($136,440)
--- Ithaca, NY ($136,210)

#17. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $88,650
- #373 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)

#16. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $89,330
- #308 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)
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#15. Administrative services managers
- Annual mean salary: $89,700
- #274 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)

#14. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $90,010
- #323 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)
#13. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $91,810
- #221 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#12. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $92,570
- #197 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)

#11. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $100,320
- #303 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)
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#10. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $102,150
- #334 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)
#9. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $103,820
- #278 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)
#8. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $104,770
- #352 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)
#7. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $106,860
- #166 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)

#6. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $108,190
- #354 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)
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#5. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $114,050
- #260 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)
#4. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $121,780
- #196 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)
#3. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $131,630
- #298 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)
#2. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $162,050
- #190 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)
#1. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $262,100
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)
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