Arkansas / AR Department of Health / Registered Nurse

Job-title file

Registered Nurse

Provide direct patient care — assess conditions, administer treatment and medication, and coordinate with physicians.

170 employees hold this title in AR Department of Health. Median total compensation for the role is $76,177, above the department median of $57,595.

Employees: 170
Total payroll: $13.4M
Role median: $76,177
Agency median: $57,595
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$37,623$95,155+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 170 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Registered Nurse pay vs. Arkansas

Across all employers in Arkansas, the median wage for Registered Nurses — about 29,400 people — is $78,940. AR Department of Health pays a median base salary of $76,177 for this role, 3% below that figure — about the 44th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where AR Department of Health sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$60,780

$66,640

$78,940

$90,280

$103,660

AR Department of Health median · $76,177

The bar is the range of annual wages for Registered Nurses across every employer in Arkansas, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows AR Department of Health’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

And across the country

Nationwide, the median wage for Registered Nurses — about 3,379,720 people — is $97,550. AR Department of Health’s median base salary is 22% below that national figure, about the 20th percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$68,940

$80,330

$97,550

$112,350

$137,470

AR Department of Health median · $76,177

Local and national wages differ for reasons beyond how well a job pays — cost of living, the mix of employers, and local demand for the occupation all move the Arkansas range relative to the national one.

Median total compensation for this role at AR Department of Health is $76,177, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across Arkansas

Registered Nurse is held in 9 Arkansas departments. In AR Department of Health, the median of $76,177 ranks #5 of 9.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Department of Education

$99,193 · 1

Department of the Inspector General

$87,197 · 1

Workers' Compensation Community

$84,753 · 1

Department of Veterans Affairs

$80,745 · 8

Arkansas Minority Health Community

$75,245 · 1

AR State Board of Nursing

$75,245 · 3

AR School for the Deaf &Amp; Blind

$75,245 · 2

AR Department of Human Services

$75,245 · 250

Median total compensation for the Registered Nurse role in other Arkansasdepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Registered Nurse beyond Arkansas

This role is reported in 15 jurisdictions. In Arkansas, the median of $75,245 ranks #8 of 15. See Registered Nurse across all of Arkansas →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

City and County of San Francisco

$256,713 · 1,911

$182,642 · 4,768

$150,727 · 15

$122,503 · 2,781

$115,950 · 906

$92,515 · 737

$90,863 · 1,024

$71,400 · 39

Median total compensation for comparable Registered Nurseroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Melissa Hensley

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$80,693

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $80,693
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,693
Hire date: 02-09-2009
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22104553

At AR Department of Health, Melissa Hensley serves as a Registered Nurse within Medical. Records show a hire date of 02-09-2009. Their 2026 pay totaled $80,693. They are classified at grade Med05.

Paula Day

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$80,585

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $80,585
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,585
Hire date: 12-31-2010
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22106514

Paula Day is a Registered Nurse at AR Department of Health within Medical. Records show a hire date of 12-31-2010. 2026 total compensation came to $80,585. They are classified at grade Med05.

Ashley Davidson

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$80,437

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $80,437
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,437
Hire date: 07-14-2020
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22106484

At AR Department of Health, Ashley Davidson serves as a Registered Nurse within Medical. Records show a hire date of 07-14-2020. Their 2026 pay totaled $80,437. They are classified at grade Med05.

Leaann Mercer

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$80,275

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $80,275
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,275
Hire date: 09-03-2003
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22105670

At AR Department of Health, Leaann Mercer serves as a Registered Nurse within Medical. Records show a hire date of 09-03-2003. Their 2026 pay totaled $80,275. They are classified at grade Med05.

Dorie Owen

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$80,105

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $80,105
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,105
Hire date: 05-10-2015
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22106399

At AR Department of Health, Dorie Owen serves as a Registered Nurse within Medical. Records show a hire date of 05-10-2015. Their 2026 pay totaled $80,105. They are classified at grade Med05.

Roshunda Harper

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$80,105

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $80,105
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,105
Hire date: 11-29-2011
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22105509

Roshunda Harper is a Registered Nurse at AR Department of Health within Medical. Records show a hire date of 11-29-2011. 2026 total compensation came to $80,105. They are classified at grade Med05.

Julie Russell

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$80,089

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $80,089
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,089
Hire date: 05-13-2012
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22104486

At AR Department of Health, Julie Russell serves as a Registered Nurse within Medical. Records show a hire date of 05-13-2012. Their 2026 pay totaled $80,089. They are classified at grade Med05.

Melissa Russenberger

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$79,938

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $79,938
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,938
Hire date: 06-13-2016
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22104573

Melissa Russenberger is a Registered Nurse at AR Department of Health within Medical. Records show a hire date of 06-13-2016. 2026 total compensation came to $79,938. They are classified at grade Med05.

Tammy Noe

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$79,710

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $79,710
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,710
Hire date: 04-18-1996
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22105802

At AR Department of Health, Tammy Noe serves as a Registered Nurse within Medical. Records show a hire date of 04-18-1996. Their 2026 pay totaled $79,710. They are classified at grade Med05.

Latishua Jones

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$79,660

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $79,660
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,660
Hire date: 12-03-2015
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22106767

Latishua Jones works as a Registered Nurse for AR Department of Health within Medical. Their hire date on record is 12-03-2015. Latishua earned $79,660 in 2026. Their pay grade is Med05.

Thalia Perez

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$79,551

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $79,551
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,551
Hire date: 05-28-2024
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22109124

Thalia Perez holds the role of Registered Nurse at AR Department of Health within Medical. Their hire date on record is 05-28-2024. In 2026, their total compensation was $79,551. Their pay grade is Med05.

Jessica Lee

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$79,344

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $79,344
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,344
Hire date: 05-17-2020
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22076763

Jessica Lee holds the role of Registered Nurse at AR Department of Health within Medical. Their hire date on record is 05-17-2020. In 2026, their total compensation was $79,344. Their pay grade is Med05.

Laurie Bland-Criddle

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$79,066

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $79,066
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,066
Hire date: 08-19-2017
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22105230

Laurie Bland-Criddle works as a Registered Nurse for AR Department of Health within Medical. Their hire date on record is 08-19-2017. Laurie earned $79,066 in 2026. Their pay grade is Med05.

Genevieve Spradlin

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$78,561

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $78,561
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,561
Hire date: 02-22-2022
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22106229

Genevieve Spradlin holds the role of Registered Nurse at AR Department of Health within Medical. Their hire date on record is 02-22-2022. In 2026, their total compensation was $78,561. Their pay grade is Med05.

Shana Janes

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$78,549

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $78,549
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,549
Hire date: 09-25-2016
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22104512

At AR Department of Health, Shana Janes serves as a Registered Nurse within Medical. Records show a hire date of 09-25-2016. Their 2026 pay totaled $78,549. They are classified at grade Med05.

Sobrena Roland

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$78,549

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $78,549
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,549
Hire date: 07-27-2000
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22104648

Sobrena Roland is a Registered Nurse at AR Department of Health within Medical. Records show a hire date of 07-27-2000. 2026 total compensation came to $78,549. They are classified at grade Med05.

Deborah Marler

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$78,549

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $78,549
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,549
Hire date: 03-01-2015
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22106130

Deborah Marler works as a Registered Nurse for AR Department of Health within Medical. Their hire date on record is 03-01-2015. Deborah earned $78,549 in 2026. Their pay grade is Med05.

Ashley Shatwell

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$78,549

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $78,549
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,549
Hire date: 12-18-2016
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22111471

At AR Department of Health, Ashley Shatwell serves as a Registered Nurse within Medical. Records show a hire date of 12-18-2016. Their 2026 pay totaled $78,549. They are classified at grade Med05.

Connie Hodge

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$78,549

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $78,549
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,549
Hire date: 07-05-2012
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22111317

Connie Hodge holds the role of Registered Nurse at AR Department of Health within Medical. Their hire date on record is 07-05-2012. In 2026, their total compensation was $78,549. Their pay grade is Med05.

Tiffany Twidwell

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$78,549

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $78,549
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,549
Hire date: 07-06-2014
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22106006

Tiffany Twidwell holds the role of Registered Nurse at AR Department of Health within Medical. Their hire date on record is 07-06-2014. In 2026, their total compensation was $78,549. Their pay grade is Med05.

April Culp

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$78,549

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $78,549
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,549
Hire date: 01-27-2016
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22105705

At AR Department of Health, April Culp serves as a Registered Nurse within Medical. Records show a hire date of 01-27-2016. Their 2026 pay totaled $78,549. They are classified at grade Med05.

Ariel Stevens

Registered Nurse/AR Department of Health

2026 total comp

$78,024

Sub-department: Medical
Base pay: $78,024
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,024
Hire date: 06-04-2017
Pay grade: Med05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: MNU06P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22105499

Ariel Stevens holds the role of Registered Nurse at AR Department of Health within Medical. Their hire date on record is 06-04-2017. In 2026, their total compensation was $78,024. Their pay grade is Med05.