Waiters and Waitresses salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Waiters and Waitresses in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $23,680 a year ($11.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,410 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,090 for the top 10%. That is 33% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 4% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $24,680. There are 15 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $27,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| 25th percentile | $23,140 | $11.13 |
| Median | $23,680 | $11.39 |
| 75th percentile | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,090 | $18.31 |
| Average (mean) | $27,240 | $13.09 |
Half of waiters and waitresses 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 | $1,973.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $986.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $910.77 |
| Weekly | $455.38 |
| Hourly | $11.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $26,210 | 4,300 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $24,680 | 920 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $24,610 | 5,120 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $24,550 | 8,060 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $23,550 | 1,030 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $23,330 | 970 |
| Tulsa, OK | $18,350 | 7,460 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $18,200 | 11,560 |
| Lawton, OK | $17,150 | 700 |
| Enid, OK | $16,650 | 390 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
See Waiters and Waitresses pay in every state or the Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,760 | $11.42 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| Bartender | $23,830 | $11.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $30,780 | $14.80 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,370 | $14.12 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,480 | $12.73 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,380 | $14.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,140 | $11.61 |
| 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 35-3031. 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 waiters and waitresses make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $23,680 a year, or $11.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $38,090 a year. The top 25% earn $27,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,880 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $23,140 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 1,410 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.