What apprenticeships are available for construction trades workers in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Arkansas (2026)

Q: How much do construction trades workers earn in Arkansas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), construction trades workers in Arkansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $37,630. Employment concentration in Arkansas is about 1.16 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Arkansas?

Arkansas currently employs approximately 10,650 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas employs about 10,650 construction trades workers earning a median $37,630 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Arkansas.

Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in Arkansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Arkansas Tech University	58.4	$8,674 in-state / $14,668 out-of-state	$49,759	49%	Yes*	48 mi
2	University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville	54.5	$3,630 in-state / $4,662 out-of-state	$45,597	66%	Yes*	71 mi
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3	Arkansas State University Three Rivers	53.0	$3,788 in-state / $4,388 out-of-state	$33,964	26%	Yes*	48 mi
4	Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas	52.0	$3,380 in-state / $4,550 out-of-state	$39,117	55%	Yes*	106 mi
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5	University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana	49.9	$3,880 in-state / $5,560 out-of-state	Not reported	57%	Yes*	115 mi
6	University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton	49.1	$3,648 in-state / $4,728 out-of-state	$43,385	42%	Yes*	24 mi
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7	North Arkansas College	47.0	$3,504 in-state / $5,592 out-of-state	$46,210	42%	Yes*	95 mi
8	East Arkansas Community College	44.3	$3,300 in-state / $4,380 out-of-state	$42,176	51%	Yes*	91 mi
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9	University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College	41.7	$6,300 in-state / $9,450 out-of-state	$41,807	36%	Yes*	13 mi
10	Southeast Arkansas College	35.4	$5,200 in-state / $8,650 out-of-state	$42,328	28%	Yes*	56 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Arkansas employs approximately 10,650 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,630 ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker in Arkansas, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Arkansas): $37,630 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Arkansas

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in Arkansas? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in Arkansas.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction trades workers earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Arkansas is $37,630 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,850 and experienced professionals can earn $48,410 or more ¹.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Arkansas

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Arkansas training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Arkansas that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in Arkansas before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Construction Trades Worker Apprenticeship Information in Arkansas

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Arkansas’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Arkansas Office of Skills Development
Address: 1 Commerce Way, Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: (501) 683-1152
Email: [email protected]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	3,940	$44,810	$47,210	$34,970	$64,750
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	2,790	$37,190	$38,780	$31,660	$48,460
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	2,190	$39,370	$41,810	$34,780	$49,990
Fort Smith	670	$36,950	$39,000	$30,130	$47,460
Texarkana	450	$36,360	$36,760	$27,850	$47,370
Jonesboro	390	$37,970	$38,790	$29,680	$49,720
Hot Springs	330	$34,840	$36,050	$26,990	$47,190

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 10,650 construction trades workers ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arkansas. You can also contact the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do construction trades workers earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Arkansas is $37,630, which is $9,100 below the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data ¹.

In Arkansas

Best Trade Schools in Arkansas (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Arkansas

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)