SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Jonesboro
Jonesboro, AR · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Jonesboro, AR is $30,190 a year, trailing the national median of $37,390 by 19.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Jonesboro, AR is $30,190 a year, trailing the national median of $37,390 by 19.3%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $28,490 and $35,640. The lowest tenth earn under $26,780, while the highest tenth earn more than $37,650.
The area has 540 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.99 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Fayetteville records the highest median at $33,730. Of the 249 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 223rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,780 | −28.4% |
| 25th | $28,490 | −23.8% |
| Median (50th) | $30,190 | −19.3% |
| 75th | $35,640 | −4.7% |
| 90th | $37,650 | +0.7% |
| Mean | $32,000 | −14.4% |
Other metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $33,730 | 2,940 | |
| 2 | Little Rock | $30,690 | 3,560 | |
| 3 | Fort Smith | $29,370 | 850 | |
| 4 | Hot Springs | $29,260 | 690 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Jonesboro run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $30,190 goes as far as $34,741 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$30,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,741US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $30,190 a year, 19.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $26,780 to $37,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 540 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fayetteville, at $33,730.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Jonesboro, AR?
The median annual wage is $30,190, or $14.52 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 $37,390, so pay in Jonesboro, AR is 19.3% 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 Jonesboro, AR earns more than $37,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $26,780 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 Fayetteville, at $33,730 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 540 jobs in this occupation in Jonesboro, 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.
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