Cooks, Restaurant salary in Arkansas
Cooks, Restaurant in Arkansas earn a median of $30,180 a year ($14.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,270 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,140 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $37,390. Arkansas ranks 48th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 8.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Arkansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,020 | $12.51 |
| 25th percentile | $28,470 | $13.69 |
| Median | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| 75th percentile | $35,410 | $17.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Average (mean) | $31,650 | $15.22 |
Half of cooks, restaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,515 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,257.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,160.77 |
| Weekly | $580.38 |
| Hourly | $14.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Arkansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,340 | 4,800 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $33,730 | 2,940 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $30,690 | 3,560 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $30,190 | 540 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $29,490 | 640 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $29,370 | 850 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $29,260 | 690 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
Related jobs in Arkansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,710 | $13.32 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,240 | $14.54 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,660 | $13.30 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,510 | $14.67 |
| Cooks, All Other | $30,780 | $14.80 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,250 | $12.62 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,680 | $11.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,760 | $12.87 |
| Bartender | $25,090 | $12.06 |
| Dishwasher | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,670 | $13.30 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $46,170 | $22.20 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Arkansas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Arkansas?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Arkansas is $30,180 a year, or $14.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Arkansas?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Arkansas earn at least $37,140 a year. The top 25% earn $35,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Arkansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,020 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,470 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Arkansas?
About 11,270 cooks, restaurant are employed in Arkansas, not counting the self-employed.