Cooks, Restaurant pay in Arkansas
In Arkansas, the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $14.51 an hour ($30,180 a year). About 11,270 people work in this job there.
That is 19% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). Arkansas ranks 48th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Arkansas
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $12.51 | $26,020 |
| 25% of workers | $13.69 | $28,470 |
| Half of workers (median) | $14.51 | $30,180 |
| 75% of workers | $17.03 | $35,410 |
| 90% of workers | $17.86 | $37,140 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Arkansas metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $33,730 | 2,940 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $30,690 | 3,560 |
| Jonesboro | $30,190 | 540 |
| Fort Smith | $29,370 | 850 |
| Hot Springs | $29,260 | 690 |
Arkansas unemployment rate: 3.9% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Arkansas
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,710 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,240 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $27,660 |
| Bakers | $30,380 |
| Food Batchmakers | $38,990 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $34,380 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $46,170 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.