Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Arkansas
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Arkansas earn a median of $27,600 a year ($13.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,430 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $35,360. Arkansas ranks 49th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 2.7 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $29,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Arkansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,920 | $11.50 |
| 25th percentile | $26,420 | $12.70 |
| Median | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| 75th percentile | $29,330 | $14.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,430 | $16.55 |
| Average (mean) | $29,110 | $14.00 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,300 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,150 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,061.54 |
| Weekly | $530.77 |
| Hourly | $13.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,600 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in cities in Arkansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $31,080 | 820 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $29,200 | 850 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $27,740 | 130 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $27,600 | 230 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $27,490 | 1,000 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $27,040 | 210 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $24,770 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
Related jobs in Arkansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,250 | $12.62 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,680 | $11.86 |
| Bartender | $25,090 | $12.06 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,710 | $13.32 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,240 | $14.54 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,660 | $13.30 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,760 | $12.87 |
| 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 |
| 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 35-3041. 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 food servers, nonrestaurant make in Arkansas?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Arkansas is $27,600 a year, or $13.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Arkansas?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Arkansas earn at least $34,430 a year. The top 25% earn $29,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Arkansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,920 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $26,420 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Arkansas?
About 3,540 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Arkansas, not counting the self-employed.