Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Arkansas

Cooks, restaurant in Arkansas earn the most in Fayetteville (average $33,450 a year) and the least in Hot Springs ($30,460), across the 5 Arkansas metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the cooks, restaurant average at $31,650 and the median at $30,180 for 11,270 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $38,730.

Cooks, Restaurant average salary by city in Arkansas

Fayetteville$33,450
Little Rock$32,150
Jonesboro$32,000
Fort Smith$30,510
Hot Springs$30,460

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
Fayetteville	$33,450	$33,730	$29,220	$28,307	91
Little Rock	$32,150	$30,690	$28,570	$27,311	89
Jonesboro	$32,000	$30,190	$28,490	$27,196	86
Fort Smith	$30,510	$29,370	$28,140	$26,054	86
Hot Springs	$30,460	$29,260	$28,030	$26,016	86

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Cooks, Restaurant salary in other states

Cooks, Restaurant salary by city and state

More about pay in Arkansas

Sources and how to read this page

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2014.
U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.

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