SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Arkansas
Arkansas · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay in Arkansas is $46,170 a year, 26.1% under the national median of $62,470 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Arkansas is $46,170 a year, 26.1% under the national median of $62,470 for this occupation. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $39,430 and $64,970. The lowest tenth earn under $33,500, while the highest tenth earn more than $87,730.
The area has 880 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.7 of every thousand jobs. Arkansas ranks number 50th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Hot Springs records the highest median at $58,240. Of the 673 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 380th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,500 | −46.4% |
| 25th | $39,430 | −36.9% |
| Median (50th) | $46,170 | −26.1% |
| 75th | $64,970 | +4.0% |
| 90th | $87,730 | +40.4% |
| Mean | $53,820 | −13.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hot Springs | $58,240 | 40 | |
| 2 | Jonesboro | $52,970 | 40 | |
| 3 | Fayetteville | $51,230 | 220 | |
| 4 | Little Rock | $44,050 | 230 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $46,170 goes as far as $53,130 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,170as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,130US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,170 a year, 26.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $33,500 to $87,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 880 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 50th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Hot Springs, at $58,240.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $46,170, or $22.20 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Arkansas is 26.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Arkansas earns more than $87,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $33,500 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Hot Springs, at $58,240 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 880 jobs in this occupation in Arkansas. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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