Cooks, Fast Food salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Cooks, Fast Food in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $26,480 a year ($12.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,400 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 4% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $27,710. There are 6.7 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $26,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,050 | $11.08 |
| 25th percentile | $23,370 | $11.23 |
| Median | $26,480 | $12.73 |
| 75th percentile | $28,950 | $13.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $30,400 | $14.61 |
| Average (mean) | $26,830 | $12.90 |
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 | $2,206.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,103.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,018.46 |
| Weekly | $509.23 |
| Hourly | $12.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $26,480 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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $28,580 | 3,050 |
| Tulsa, OK | $28,100 | 3,280 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $27,990 | 2,710 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $27,710 | 1,660 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,230 | 2,270 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $26,580 | 490 |
| Enid, OK | $25,730 | 170 |
| Lawton, OK | $25,600 | 360 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,370 | $14.12 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,380 | $14.12 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,760 | $11.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,680 | $11.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $30,780 | $14.80 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,140 | $11.61 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| Bartender | $23,830 | $11.46 |
| Dishwasher | $26,630 | $12.80 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,870 | $13.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $26,480 a year, or $12.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $30,400 a year. The top 25% earn $28,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,050 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $23,370 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 640 cooks, fast food are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.