[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Choosing to study [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/msn/”]towards an MSN degree program[/hen-ui-link] is a really good career choice for those who already are registered nurses (RNs). It is known that holding an MSN degree opens up [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/msn/best-paying-msn-degree-nursing-jobs//”]better career options[/hen-ui-link] and it leads to a significant increase in salary as well. When choosing an MSN degree[hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/arkansas/”] in Arkansas[/hen-ui-link], it is very important that you choose a specialization that interests you and that you find a good school.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Let’s take a look first at salaries and job outlook for MSN degree holders in Arkansas.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online MSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Salaries and Job Outlook for MSN Degree Holders in Arkansas[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Within Arkansas, the variation between the salaries for RNs with an MSN is very large. This is due to a range of different factors, including population, employer and market competitiveness. Nevertheless, the job outlook and salaries are good throughout the state.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Only 1% of all the RNs in the country work in Arkansas, which equates to around 23,730 nurses. The average annual salary, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $56,500 per year, or $27.16 per hour, in 2010. This is well below the national average, but it is important to note that the cost of living in Arkansas is much lower than the national average as well.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The top 10% of RNs in Arkansas earn $74,600 or more while the bottom 10% earn less than $37,910. Generally, this is linked to their experience and, as the most important factor, their education. Indeed, the top 10% all hold at least an [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/msn/types-of-masters-degrees-in-nursing//”]MSN degree[/hen-ui-link], whereas the bottom 10% tend to hold an associate’s degree.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In terms of where the highest salaries are paid, Hot Springs is the best place to work in. The median annual wage is $72,360, which is higher than the national average. However, it should also be observed that the cost of living is slightly higher in Hot Springs than elsewhere in the state although it is still far below the national average. It is a fantastic place to work as a nurse, but competition is fierce and only very few positions are available.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Other areas where the [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/rn-salary//”]salaries for RNs are high[/hen-ui-link] include those near to the Texas border. Generally speaking, the highest salaries are earned at surgical and medical hospitals, where demand for nurses is also the highest. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this demand for nurses will continue to grow above the national average in the state of Arkansas.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Explore the Best Arkansas MSN Degree Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It is very important to choose a degree program that fits your personal interests and your career objectives. There are many programs to choose from in Arkansas, so you should spend your time doing some research.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Let’s take a look at what we think are the top Arkansas MSN degree programs.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How We Rank Schools”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]We use a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/methodology/”]data-driven methodology[/hen-ui-link] to rank the best nursing programs, making it easy to find a program that meets your needs. Informed by data from the most reputable sources, including the U.S. Department of Education, our methodology is based on metrics that matter most to nursing students, including academic quality, affordability, reputation, and program offerings. This ranking is from 2021.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion]