Waiters and Waitresses Pay Range in Arkansas
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$23,040
- 25th Percentile — Junior$23,430
- 50th Percentile — Median$24,680
- 75th Percentile — Senior$30,450
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$43,810
Half of Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas earn more than $24,680. The top 10% make $43,810 or more, while entry-level workers start around $23,040.
Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Arkansas ranks 44th of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses pay, at $29,050 per year (27.5% below the U.S. average of $40,060).
- 17,880 people work as Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas — 0.8% of all U.S. Waiters and Waitresses jobs.
- Location quotient 0.94: Waiters and Waitresses jobs are less concentrated in Arkansas than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $23,040; the top 10% earn over $43,810.
- Hourly equivalent: $13.97 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $68,260.
- Among hospitality jobs in Arkansas, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($53,820).
Waiters and Waitresses Job Market in Arkansas
Key factors affecting compensation
Arkansas's key industries are Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing, and its job market is rated moderate. Waiters and Waitresses here earn $29,050 on average, placing the state 44th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Arkansas salary of $29,050 is roughly equivalent to $35,000 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Minnesota ($30,060), Texas ($29,750), Montana ($29,180) are the closest alternatives for Waiters and Waitresses 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
- Chefs and Head Cooks $53,820/yr Arkansas +85.3% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $36,730/yr Arkansas +26.4% vs this role
- Bartenders $32,850/yr Arkansas +13.1% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $32,720/yr Arkansas +12.6% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $31,650/yr Arkansas +9.0% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $30,140/yr Arkansas +3.8% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $27,770/yr Arkansas 4.4% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,890/yr Arkansas 7.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Arkansas?
The average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Arkansas is $29,050 per year (median $24,680), which is 27.5% below the national average of $40,060.
How does Arkansas rank for Waiters and Waitresses pay?
Arkansas ranks 44th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($68,260/yr).
How much do entry-level Waiters and Waitresses make in Arkansas?
The lowest-paid 10% of Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas earn about $23,040 per year and the 25th percentile is $23,430.
How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Arkansas?
About $13.97 per hour, based on the $29,050 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Waiters and Waitresses work in Arkansas?
BLS counts 17,880 Waiters and Waitresses jobs in Arkansas (OEWS May 2025).
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