SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Little Rock
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Little Rock, AR is $44,050 per year, substantially below the national median of $62,470 — a gap of 29.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Little Rock, AR is $44,050 per year, substantially below the national median of $62,470 — a gap of 29.5%. Pay ranges from under $36,770 at the tenth percentile to more than $90,840 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $39,760 to $61,990.
The area has 230 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.6 of every thousand jobs. Hot Springs leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $58,240. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 340th of 513 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,770 | −41.1% |
| 25th | $39,760 | −36.4% |
| Median (50th) | $44,050 | −29.5% |
| 75th | $61,990 | −0.8% |
| 90th | $90,840 | +45.4% |
| Mean | $53,090 | −15.0% |
Other 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 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Little Rock run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $44,050 goes as far as $50,690 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 18.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,050as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$50,690US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,050 a year, 29.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,770 to $90,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in 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 Little Rock, AR?
The median annual wage is $44,050, or $21.18 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 Little Rock, AR is 29.5% 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 Little Rock, AR earns more than $90,840 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,770 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 230 jobs in this occupation in Little Rock, AR. 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.
Explore related data