Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Arkansas
Chefs and Head Cooks in Arkansas earn a median of $46,170 a year ($22.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 880 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,730 for the top 10%. That is 26% lower than the national median of $62,470. Arkansas ranks 50th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.68 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $53,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Arkansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,500 | $16.11 |
| 25th percentile | $39,430 | $18.96 |
| Median | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| 75th percentile | $64,970 | $31.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,730 | $42.18 |
| Average (mean) | $53,820 | $25.87 |
Half of chefs and head cooks 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 | $3,847.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,923.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,775.77 |
| Weekly | $887.88 |
| Hourly | $22.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,170 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in Arkansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $66,230 | 540 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $58,240 | 40 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $52,970 | 40 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $51,230 | 220 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $50,270 | 50 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $44,050 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
Related jobs in Arkansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,250 | $12.62 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,680 | $11.86 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,660 | $15.22 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,510 | $14.67 |
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 35-1011. 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 chefs and head cooks make in Arkansas?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Arkansas is $46,170 a year, or $22.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Arkansas?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Arkansas earn at least $87,730 a year. The top 25% earn $64,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Arkansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,500 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $39,430 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Arkansas?
About 880 chefs and head cooks are employed in Arkansas, not counting the self-employed.