Jobs, pay and daily life in Newport, 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.
Newport is a city in Arkansas with 8,024 residents. The median household earns $34,764 a year and the median rent is $597 a month, which is 20.6% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Jonesboro, AR (60,620 jobs), about 34 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Newport compares. Among the 60 largest places in Arkansas, Newport is #49 by population, #59 for household income (#1 = highest), #59 for remote work (#1 = most), #2 for rent (#1 = cheapest). Its county, Jackson County, is #19 of 75 counties for average pay ($49,233).
Newport has 8,024 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.3% of the population of Arkansas. It covers 14 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 592 people per square mile. The median age is 38.8, about the same as the state median (38.8 against 38.5).
The median gross rent is $597 a month (rent plus utilities), 37% below the state median ($597 against $947). Over a year that is 20.6% 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 $162,600, which is 4.7 times the median household income ($34,764). 55.1% of households own their home, 17% below the state average (55.1% against 66.4%).
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Jonesboro, AR, metropolitan area has 60,620 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $42,240 a year, 17% below the national median ($42,240 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (6,810 jobs, median $38,560); healthcare practitioners and technical (6,160 jobs, median $77,510); transportation and material moving (6,000 jobs, median $37,660). The area is most specialised in healthcare practitioners and technical (1.6 times) and production (1.5 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are healthcare practitioners and technical ($77,510) and production ($46,380). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Jackson County was 4.0%. 34.1% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Jackson County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 79.8% drive alone, 0.0% use public transit, 8.0% walk, 0.8% work from home. 6.9% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 40% below the state average (6.9% against 11.4%).
12.3% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 52% below the state share (12.3% against 25.7%). 2.3% of residents were born outside the United States, 58% below the state share (2.3% against 5.4%). The poverty rate is 30.4%, 90% above the state rate (30.4% against 16.0%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 81°F (27.1°C), and the coolest is Jan at 38°F (3.3°C). About 1,267 mm (50 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; May is the wettest month (141 mm) and Jan the driest (82 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: Batesville (24 miles, rent 48% higher); Jonesboro (34 miles, rent 60% higher); Wynne (37 miles, rent 27% higher); Searcy (39 miles, rent 52% higher). Rent differences are against Newport; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Arkansas (245) →State guide: ArkansasCountry guideJackson 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 1,990 | 1.51 | $78,940 | $64,520 | $100,250 | -19% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,940 | 1.28 | $28,960 | $24,210 | $40,120 | -18% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,900 | 1.26 | $26,260 | $23,200 | $33,630 | -16% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,470 | 1.08 | $69,370 | $37,730 | $155,380 | -34% |
| Cashiers | 1,340 | 1.11 | $28,090 | $23,590 | $35,090 | -15% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 1,280 | 1.11 | $37,500 | $28,820 | $51,210 | -7% |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,260 | 1.32 | $36,400 | $23,890 | $54,410 | -19% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,220 | 1.52 | $47,670 | $34,400 | $72,590 | -19% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,180 | 1.37 | $27,890 | $25,700 | $36,830 | -24% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,170 | 1.06 | $31,330 | $29,040 | $44,390 | -16% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,110 | 0.66 | $27,430 | $24,600 | $31,180 | -23% |
| Nursing Assistants | 1,050 | 1.87 | $35,210 | $29,510 | $39,020 | -17% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 920 | 1.04 | $24,680 | $23,050 | $43,960 | -30% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 730 | 0.73 | $36,770 | $28,550 | $55,290 | -18% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 720 | 1.31 | $44,050 | $31,570 | $56,890 | -1% |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | 670 | 1.89 | $32,540 | $27,880 | $39,420 | -14% |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 630 | 2.49 | $50,980 | $40,400 | $61,910 | -21% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 620 | 2.37 | $60,450 | $46,820 | $80,120 | -19% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 610 | 1.47 | $60,920 | $51,050 | $70,260 | -15% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 590 | 1.23 | $60,910 | $30,640 | $141,520 | -15% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Jonesboro, AR, about 34 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $42,240 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.6% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 19.3% |
| Manufacturing | 17.2% |
| Retail trade | 12.5% |
| Public administration | 6.6% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 5.8% |
| Construction | 4.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 3.1% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 2.8% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 1.6% |
| Other services | 1.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 0.6% |
| Information | 0.0% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Newport 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 16,712 | $988 million | $59,121 | 5,130 | 418 | $49,233 | +1.2% | 4.0% | 5,679 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 915 | 30.0% | $68,674 | 2.17 |
| Retail trade | 704 | 23.1% | $37,028 | 1.37 |
| Health care and social assistance | 685 | 22.4% | $50,452 | 0.93 |
| Wholesale trade | 233 | 7.6% | $72,561 | 1.15 |
| Construction | 162 | 5.3% | $61,478 | 0.60 |
| Finance and insurance | 111 | 3.6% | $56,071 | 0.53 |
| Professional and technical services | 102 | 3.3% | $63,846 | 0.29 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 44 | 1.4% | $60,588 | 0.20 |
| Utilities | 35 | 1.1% | $82,482 | 1.79 |
| Real estate and rental | 28 | 0.9% | $31,365 | 0.35 |
| Management of companies | 19 | 0.6% | $56,848 | 0.22 |
| Administrative and waste services | 16 | 0.5% | $53,102 | 0.05 |
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 | 79.8% |
| Public transit | 0.0% |
| Walk | 8.0% |
| Work from home | 0.8% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 6.9% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $34,764 |
| Income per person | $17,139 |
| Median gross rent per month | $597 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 20.6% |
| Median home value | $162,600 |
| Homeowners | 55.1% |
| Poverty rate | 30.4% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 85.9 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $42,240 |
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 | 38.8 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 82.9% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 12.3% |
| Born abroad | 2.3% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 34.1% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.3 | 38 | 82 |
| Feb | 5.3 | 42 | 104 |
| Mar | 10.7 | 51 | 125 |
| Apr | 16.1 | 61 | 129 |
| May | 20.8 | 69 | 141 |
| Jun | 25.3 | 78 | 82 |
| Jul | 27.1 | 81 | 93 |
| Aug | 26.8 | 80 | 99 |
| Sep | 23.1 | 74 | 82 |
| Oct | 16.4 | 62 | 104 |
| Nov | 10.0 | 50 | 104 |
| Dec | 5.0 | 41 | 122 |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batesville | AR | 24 mi | 11,445 | $51,856 | $882 |
| Jonesboro | AR | 34 mi | 80,137 | $55,424 | $956 |
| Wynne | AR | 37 mi | 8,120 | $43,250 | $760 |
| Searcy | AR | 39 mi | 23,340 | $52,170 | $905 |
| Trumann | AR | 40 mi | 7,410 | $38,881 | $586 |
| Heber Springs | AR | 46 mi | 7,161 | $50,636 | $847 |
| Pocahontas | AR | 47 mi | 7,538 | $44,216 | $768 |
| Forrest City | AR | 49 mi | 12,646 | $35,689 | $805 |
| Paragould | AR | 50 mi | 30,215 | $56,980 | $925 |
| Beebe | AR | 54 mi | 8,707 | $59,476 | $799 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
8,024 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$597 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 20.6% of the median household income.
$34,764 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.0% (BLS county, Jackson County (latest month 2026M09)).
Arkansas. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.