Cooks, Fast Food salary in Arkansas
Cooks, Fast Food in Arkansas earn a median of $27,710 a year ($13.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,860 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $32,720 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $30,890. Arkansas ranks 42nd of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 6.0 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $27,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Arkansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,770 | $11.43 |
| 25th percentile | $24,600 | $11.83 |
| Median | $27,710 | $13.32 |
| 75th percentile | $29,150 | $14.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $32,720 | $15.73 |
| Average (mean) | $27,770 | $13.35 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,309.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,154.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,065.77 |
| Weekly | $532.88 |
| Hourly | $13.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,710 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Arkansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $28,580 | 3,050 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $27,710 | 1,660 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,230 | 2,270 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $26,580 | 490 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $26,480 | 640 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $24,500 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
Related jobs in Arkansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,240 | $14.54 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,660 | $13.30 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,510 | $14.67 |
| Cooks, All Other | $30,780 | $14.80 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,250 | $12.62 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,680 | $11.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $46,170 | $22.20 |
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 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Arkansas?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Arkansas is $27,710 a year, or $13.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $32,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Arkansas?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Arkansas earn at least $32,720 a year. The top 25% earn $29,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Arkansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,770 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $24,600 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Arkansas?
About 7,860 cooks, fast food are employed in Arkansas, not counting the self-employed.