Cooks, Fast Food salary in Jonesboro, AR
Cooks, Fast Food in the Jonesboro, AR metro area earn a median of $26,580 a year ($12.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 490 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,950 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 8.1 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $27,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Jonesboro, AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,740 | $11.42 |
| 25th percentile | $24,430 | $11.74 |
| Median | $26,580 | $12.78 |
| 75th percentile | $28,520 | $13.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $30,950 | $14.88 |
| Average (mean) | $27,320 | $13.14 |
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 | $2,215 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,107.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,022.31 |
| Weekly | $511.15 |
| Hourly | $12.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $26,580 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 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $27,710 | 1,660 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,230 | 2,270 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Jonesboro, AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,190 | $14.52 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $32,720 | $15.73 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,260 | $12.63 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,680 | $11.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $31,270 | $15.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,840 | $12.90 |
| Bartender | $24,460 | $11.76 |
| Dishwasher | $27,750 | $13.34 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,740 | $13.34 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,040 | $13.48 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $52,970 | $25.47 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Jonesboro, AR
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 Jonesboro, AR?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Jonesboro, AR metro area is $26,580 a year, or $12.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Jonesboro, AR?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Jonesboro, AR metro area earn at least $30,950 a year. The top 25% earn $28,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Jonesboro, AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,740 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $24,430 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Jonesboro, AR?
About 490 cooks, fast food are employed in the Jonesboro, AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.