Jobs, pay and daily life in Hope, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Hope is a city in Arkansas with 8,671 residents. The median household earns $37,500 a year and the median rent is $823 a month, which is 26.3% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Texarkana, TX-AR (57,580 jobs), about 28 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Hope compares. Among the 60 largest places in Arkansas, Hope is #45 by population, #56 for remote work (#1 = most), #55 for household income (#1 = highest), #51 for college degrees (#1 = most). Its county, Hempstead County, is #38 of 75 counties for average pay ($45,282).
Hope has 8,671 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.3% of the population of Arkansas. It covers 11 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 812 people per square mile. The median age is 41.3, 7% older than the state median (41.3 against 38.5).
The median gross rent is $823 a month (rent plus utilities), 13% below the state median ($823 against $947). Over a year that is 26.3% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $91,900, which is 2.5 times the median household income ($37,500); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 60.5% of households own their home, 9% below the state average (60.5% against 66.4%).
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Texarkana, TX-AR, metropolitan area has 57,580 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $43,200 a year, 15% below the national median ($43,200 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (6,420 jobs, median $38,010); food preparation and serving related (5,980 jobs, median $25,870); sales and related (5,250 jobs, median $30,590). The area is most specialised in production (1.6 times) and food preparation and serving related (1.2 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are production ($48,320) and office and administrative support ($38,010). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Hempstead County was 4.1%. 52.6% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Hempstead County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 90.6% drive alone, 0.1% use public transit, 0.3% walk, 2.3% work from home. 11.5% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, about the same as the state average (11.5% against 11.4%).
14.2% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 45% below the state share (14.2% against 25.7%). 10.0% of residents were born outside the United States, 84% above the state share (10.0% against 5.4%). The poverty rate is 23.4%, 46% above the state rate (23.4% against 16.0%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 84°F (28.9°C), and the coolest is Jan at 42°F (5.7°C). About 1,319 mm (52 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; May is the wettest month (137 mm) and Aug the driest (89 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Texarkana (28 miles, rent 10% higher); Texarkana (32 miles, rent 23% higher); Magnolia (34 miles, rent 23% lower); Camden (43 miles, rent 7% lower). Rent differences are against Hope; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Arkansas (245) →State guide: ArkansasCountry guideHempstead CountyArkansas rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 245 federal postings open in Arkansas (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Arkansas →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 2,170 | 1.52 | $22,880 | $21,300 | $28,740 | -27% |
| Registered Nurses | 1,760 | 1.41 | $80,610 | $60,960 | $99,370 | -17% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,650 | 1.14 | $28,700 | $22,230 | $39,090 | -19% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,630 | 1.26 | $77,060 | $38,660 | $177,370 | -27% |
| Cashiers | 1,410 | 1.23 | $26,850 | $21,620 | $33,350 | -18% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,190 | 1.55 | $49,050 | $34,560 | $76,330 | -16% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,160 | 0.73 | $24,630 | $21,020 | $31,850 | -31% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,080 | 1.03 | $33,180 | $27,790 | $43,260 | -11% |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,050 | 1.15 | $36,040 | $23,950 | $56,000 | -20% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 970 | 1.16 | $23,330 | $15,710 | $44,010 | -34% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 920 | 0.84 | $36,710 | $27,900 | $53,040 | -9% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 870 | 1.07 | $32,010 | $23,550 | $44,160 | -13% |
| Nursing Assistants | 820 | 1.54 | $32,880 | $24,620 | $40,970 | -22% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 740 | 0.77 | $36,090 | $26,730 | $52,840 | -19% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 720 | 1.39 | $50,270 | $46,310 | $61,630 | -21% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 670 | 1.47 | $30,000 | $26,500 | $54,150 | -32% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 670 | 1.06 | $37,490 | $28,000 | $58,430 | -21% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 660 | 1.26 | $28,040 | $21,770 | $38,710 | -24% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 660 | 4.65 | $51,310 | $34,560 | $64,540 | -13% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 650 | 1.55 | $37,540 | $27,090 | $69,360 | -23% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Texarkana, TX-AR, about 28 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $43,200 (US $50,980); unemployment 4.3% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 37.2% |
| Education and health care | 22.9% |
| Retail trade | 8.1% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 6.9% |
| Public administration | 6.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 5.3% |
| Construction | 5.3% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 2.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.6% |
| Information | 1.4% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 1.1% |
| Other services | 0.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 0.5% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Hope lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hempstead County | 19,508 | $1,323 million | $67,820 | 7,628 | 502 | $45,282 | -1.9% | 4.1% | 8,796 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,158 | 49.0% | $55,531 | 3.44 |
| Retail trade | 748 | 17.0% | $29,289 | 0.98 |
| Accommodation and food services | 597 | 13.6% | $19,134 | 0.86 |
| Wholesale trade | 184 | 4.2% | $43,638 | 0.61 |
| Construction | 152 | 3.5% | $49,277 | 0.38 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 145 | 3.3% | $55,356 | 0.45 |
| Utilities | 131 | 3.0% | $106,698 | 4.52 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 110 | 2.5% | $41,599 | 0.48 |
| Finance and insurance | 99 | 2.2% | $64,413 | 0.32 |
| Real estate and rental | 44 | 1.0% | $37,208 | 0.37 |
| Information | 28 | 0.6% | $53,929 | 0.20 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 8 | 0.2% | $25,221 | 0.06 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 90.6% |
| Public transit | 0.1% |
| Walk | 0.3% |
| Work from home | 2.3% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 11.5% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $37,500 |
| Income per person | $32,321 |
| Median gross rent per month | $823 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 26.3% |
| Median home value | $91,900 |
| Homeowners | 60.5% |
| Poverty rate | 23.4% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 84.0 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $43,200 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 3.90%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 80.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 14.2% |
| Born abroad | 10.0% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 52.6% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5.7 | 42 | 92 |
| Feb | 7.8 | 46 | 119 |
| Mar | 12.7 | 55 | 128 |
| Apr | 17.4 | 63 | 127 |
| May | 22.1 | 72 | 137 |
| Jun | 26.8 | 80 | 98 |
| Jul | 28.9 | 84 | 101 |
| Aug | 28.9 | 84 | 89 |
| Sep | 25.1 | 77 | 92 |
| Oct | 18.4 | 65 | 121 |
| Nov | 12.0 | 54 | 90 |
| Dec | 7.2 | 45 | 125 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texarkana | AR | 28 mi | 29,177 | $45,835 | $909 |
| Texarkana | TX | 32 mi | 35,992 | $50,573 | $1,010 |
| Magnolia | AR | 34 mi | 10,894 | $56,127 | $633 |
| Camden | AR | 43 mi | 10,307 | $49,361 | $768 |
| Arkadelphia | AR | 43 mi | 10,099 | $48,657 | $814 |
| De Queen | AR | 50 mi | 6,058 | $52,522 | $757 |
| El Dorado | AR | 62 mi | 17,115 | $49,244 | $880 |
| Hot Springs | AR | 65 mi | 37,920 | $47,760 | $914 |
| Malvern | AR | 66 mi | 10,953 | $46,250 | $764 |
| Minden | LA | 75 mi | 11,455 | $34,294 | $895 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
8,671 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$823 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 26.3% of the median household income.
$37,500 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.1% (BLS county, Hempstead County (latest month 2026M09)).
Arkansas. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.