Cooks, Restaurant salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Cooks, Restaurant in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $29,370 a year ($14.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,200 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 3% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $30,180. There are 8.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $30,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,140 | $11.61 |
| 25th percentile | $28,140 | $13.53 |
| Median | $29,370 | $14.12 |
| 75th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,200 | $17.41 |
| Average (mean) | $30,510 | $14.67 |
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 | $2,447.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,223.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,129.62 |
| Weekly | $564.81 |
| Hourly | $14.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,340 | 4,800 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $36,130 | 7,130 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $33,730 | 2,940 |
| Tulsa, OK | $33,410 | 4,420 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $30,690 | 3,560 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $30,190 | 540 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $29,490 | 640 |
| Enid, OK | $29,340 | 220 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $29,260 | 690 |
| Lawton, OK | $28,800 | 410 |
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 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,480 | $12.73 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,380 | $14.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,760 | $11.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,680 | $11.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $30,780 | $14.80 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,140 | $11.61 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| Bartender | $23,830 | $11.46 |
| Dishwasher | $26,630 | $12.80 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,870 | $13.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $29,370 a year, or $14.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $36,200 a year. The top 25% earn $34,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,140 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,140 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 850 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.