Cooks, Short Order salary in Arkansas
Cooks, Short Order in Arkansas earn a median of $30,510 a year ($14.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,140 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $35,880. Arkansas ranks 36th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.13 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.14). The average (mean) salary is $31,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Arkansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,000 | $12.50 |
| 25th percentile | $27,940 | $13.44 |
| Median | $30,510 | $14.67 |
| 75th percentile | $34,260 | $16.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Average (mean) | $31,560 | $15.18 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,542.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,271.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,173.46 |
| Weekly | $586.73 |
| Hourly | $14.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in Arkansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $29,880 | 590 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $27,990 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
Related jobs in Arkansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,710 | $13.32 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,240 | $14.54 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,660 | $13.30 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Arkansas?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Arkansas is $30,510 a year, or $14.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Arkansas?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Arkansas earn at least $37,140 a year. The top 25% earn $34,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Arkansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,000 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $27,940 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Arkansas?
About 160 cooks, short order are employed in Arkansas, not counting the self-employed.