Food Preparation Worker salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Food Preparation Workers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $26,900 a year ($12.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,460 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 3% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $27,660. There are 3.3 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $28,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,460 | $11.28 |
| 25th percentile | $25,510 | $12.26 |
| Median | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| 75th percentile | $30,720 | $14.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Average (mean) | $28,300 | $13.61 |
Half of food preparation workers 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 | $2,241.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,120.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,034.62 |
| Weekly | $517.31 |
| Hourly | $12.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $30,560 | 1,040 |
| Tulsa, OK | $30,370 | 1,750 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $30,160 | 3,240 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $27,880 | 1,840 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $27,580 | 240 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,290 | 3,530 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $27,290 | 310 |
| Lawton, OK | $27,130 | 150 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $26,340 | 200 |
| Enid, OK | $24,810 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,370 | $14.12 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,480 | $12.73 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,380 | $14.12 |
| 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 35-2021. 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 food preparation worker make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $26,900 a year, or $12.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $36,460 a year. The top 25% earn $30,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,460 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $25,510 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 320 food preparation workers are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.