Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area earn a median of $51,230 a year ($24.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,210 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 11% higher than the Arkansas statewide median of $46,170. There are 0.79 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $59,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,710 | $16.21 |
| 25th percentile | $44,060 | $21.18 |
| Median | $51,230 | $24.63 |
| 75th percentile | $74,480 | $35.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,210 | $45.78 |
| Average (mean) | $59,310 | $28.51 |
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 | $4,269.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,134.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,970.38 |
| Weekly | $985.19 |
| Hourly | $24.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,230 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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $66,230 | 540 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $58,240 | 40 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $52,970 | 40 |
| 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 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,170 | $13.06 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,210 | $12.60 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $33,730 | $16.22 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,710 | $13.32 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,560 | $14.69 |
| Bartender | $26,570 | $12.77 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,630 | $13.29 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,200 | $14.04 |
| Dishwasher | $28,800 | $13.85 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,540 | $16.12 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR
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 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area is $51,230 a year, or $24.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area earn at least $95,210 a year. The top 25% earn $74,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,710 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $44,060 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR?
About 220 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.