Ark. Code Ann. § 21-5-209 (2026)

1. There is established for state agencies covered by this subchapter a compensation plan for the setting of salaries and salary increases, when deserved, of all employees serving in positions covered by this subchapter.
2. 1. No employee shall be paid at a rate of pay higher than the maximum pay level in the grade assigned to his or her class unless otherwise provided for in this subchapter.
   2. However, an employee presently employed in a position who is being paid at a rate in excess of the maximum for his or her assigned grade may continue to receive his or her rate of pay.
3. It is the specific intent of the General Assembly to authorize, in the enactment of the compensation plans, rates of pay for each of the appropriate grades assigned to a class, but it is not the intent that any pay increases shall be automatic or that any employee shall have a claim or a right to pay increases unless the department head of the state agency determines that the employee, by experience, ability, and work performance, is eligible for the increase in pay authorized for the appropriate rate.
4. Pay levels established in this subchapter are for compensation management purposes and are not to be construed as a contract, right, or other expectation of actual employee salary determination.
5. 1. The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the General Salaries pay table effective July 1, 2017, and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and General Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
   2. The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the Information Technology Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2017, and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and Information Technology Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
   3. The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the Medical Professional Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2017, and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and Medical Professional Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
   4. The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the Senior Executive Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2017, and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and Senior Executive Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
6. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the compensation plans in this section shall be implemented and function in compliance with other provisions in this subchapter, the Regular Salary Procedures and Restrictions Act, § 21-5-101, and other fiscal control laws of this state, when applicable.
7. 1. Except as provided in subdivision (g)(2) of this section, a payment of salaries shall not be made except in conformity with the maximum pay level assigned to these grades for each year as provided in the appropriation act of the state agency or in this subchapter.
   2. 1. With approval of the Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is in session, the Joint Budget Committee:
         1. The Governor may establish the salary of an agency director that is up to fifty percent (50%) above the maximum pay level for the grade assigned to the classification; and
         2. Salaries established by this section may exceed the maximum pay level for the grade assigned to the classification by no more than twenty-five percent (25%) for no more than ten percent (10%) of the positions authorized in the state agency's appropriation act.
      2. It is both necessary and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is in session, the Joint Budget Committee, as provided by this subsection.
      3. The requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or the Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of this section. If the requirement of approval is found unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the entire section is void.
8. The compensation plan and pay tables shall be reviewed by the Office of Personnel Management before each regular session of the General Assembly.

GENERAL SALARIES MW $17,680 $19,760 $21,840 GS1 $22,000 $26,950 $31,900 GS2 $23,335 $28,585 $33,836 GS3 $26,034 $31,892 $37,749 GS4 $29,046 $35,581 $42,117 GS5 $32,405 $39,696 $46,987 GS6 $36,155 $44,290 $52,425 GS7 $40,340 $49,417 $58,493 GS8 $45,010 $55,137 $65,265 GS9 $50,222 $61,522 $72,822 GS10 $56,039 $68,648 $81,257 GS11 $62,531 $76,600 $90,670 GS12 $69,776 $85,476 $101,175 GS13 $77,862 $95,381 $112,900 GS14 $86,887 $106,437 $125,986 GS15 $96,960 $118,776 $140,592

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SALARIES IT1 $33,403 $40,919 $48,434 IT2 $37,266 $45,651 $54,035 IT3 $41,578 $50,933 $60,288 IT4 $46,391 $56,829 $67,267 IT5 $51,762 $63,408 $75,054 IT6 $57,755 $70,750 $83,745 IT7 $64,445 $78,945 $93,445 IT8 $71,704 $87,837 $103,970 IT9 $80,242 $98,297 $116,351 IT10 $89,541 $109,688 $129,835 IT11 $99,920 $122,402 $144,884 IT12 $111,504 $136,592 $161,681

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MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL SALARIES MP1 $63,830 $75,958 $88,058 MP2 $71,403 $85,683 $99,964 MP3 $79,879 $96,654 $113,428 MP4 $89,368 $109,029 $128,690 MP5 $99,991 $122,989 $145,987 MP6 $111,884 $138,736 $165,588 MP7 $125,200 $156,500 $187,800 MP8 $140,109 $176,537 $212,966 MP9 $156,804 $199,140 $241,478 MP10 $175,620 $224,033 $270,455

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SENIOR EXECUTIVE SALARIES SE1 $108,110 $127,655 $147,200 SE2 $120,543 $138,822 $157,100 SE3 $134,406 $150,703 $167,000 SE4 $149,862 $165,681 $181,500 SE5 $167,096 $184,398 $201,700

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History. Acts 1969, No. 199, § 5; 1971, No. 749, § 1; 1973, No. 286, §§ 1, 2; 1974 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 39, § 1; 1975, No. 932, § 2; 1977, No. 289, § 1; 1979, No. 3, § 1; 1981, No. 19, § 1; 1983, No. 68, § 1; 1985, No. 101, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 12-3205, 12-3205n; Acts 1989, No. 793, § 8; 1991, No. 452, § 1; 1991, No. 1148, §§ 4, 14; 1993, No. 770, § 1; 1995, No. 992, § 1; 1997, No. 532, § 1; 1999, No. 813, § 1; 2001, No. 1461, § 3; 2003 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 22, § 1; 2005, No. 2198, § 1; 2007, No. 375, § 1; 2009, No. 688, § 7; 2017, No. 365, § 14.

Amendments. The 2009 amendment substituted “highest pay level established for the employee's grade unless otherwise provided for in this subchapter” for “maximum for his or her grade” in (b)(1); deleted “maximum” preceding “rates of pay” in (c); inserted (d) and redesignated the subsequent subsection accordingly; rewrote (e); and made minor stylistic changes.

The 2017 amendment deleted “and institutions” following “agencies” in (a); in (b)(1), substituted “maximum pay level” for “appropriate rate” and deleted “and no employee shall be paid more than the highest pay level established for the employee's grade” preceding “unless”; deleted “or the institution” following “agency” in (c); rewrote (e); and added (g) and (h).