Chefs and Head Cooks Pay Range in Arkansas
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$33,500
- 25th Percentile — Junior$39,430
- 50th Percentile — Median$46,170
- 75th Percentile — Senior$64,970
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$87,730
Half of Chefs and Head Cooks in Arkansas earn more than $46,170. The top 10% make $87,730 or more, while entry-level workers start around $33,500.
Chefs and Head Cooks in Arkansas: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Arkansas ranks 48th of 51 states for Chefs and Head Cooks pay, at $53,820 per year (19.3% below the U.S. average of $66,700).
- 880 people work as Chefs and Head Cooks in Arkansas — 0.4% of all U.S. Chefs and Head Cooks jobs.
- Location quotient 0.53: Chefs and Head Cooks jobs are less concentrated in Arkansas than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,500; the top 10% earn over $87,730.
- Hourly equivalent: $25.88 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Rhode Island at $84,860.
- Among hospitality jobs in Arkansas, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation pays the most ($36,730).
Chefs and Head Cooks Job Market in Arkansas
Key factors affecting compensation
Arkansas's key industries are Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing, and its job market is rated moderate. Chefs and Head Cooks here earn $53,820 on average, placing the state 48th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Arkansas salary of $53,820 is roughly equivalent to $64,843 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Oklahoma ($57,190), Mississippi ($56,910), Kentucky ($55,770) are the closest alternatives for Chefs and Head Cooks weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Hospitality Jobs in Arkansas
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $36,730/yr Arkansas 31.8% vs this role
- Bartenders $32,850/yr Arkansas 39.0% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $32,720/yr Arkansas 39.2% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $31,650/yr Arkansas 41.2% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $30,140/yr Arkansas 44.0% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $29,050/yr Arkansas 46.0% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $27,770/yr Arkansas 48.4% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,890/yr Arkansas 50.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Arkansas?
The average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Arkansas is $53,820 per year (median $46,170), which is 19.3% below the national average of $66,700.
How does Arkansas rank for Chefs and Head Cooks pay?
Arkansas ranks 48th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Rhode Island ($84,860/yr).
How much do entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks make in Arkansas?
The lowest-paid 10% of Chefs and Head Cooks in Arkansas earn about $33,500 per year and the 25th percentile is $39,430.
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Arkansas?
About $25.88 per hour, based on the $53,820 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Chefs and Head Cooks work in Arkansas?
BLS counts 880 Chefs and Head Cooks jobs in Arkansas (OEWS May 2025).
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