SOC 35-9011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers — Arkansas
Arkansas · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in Arkansas is $27,670 per year, 18.6% below the national median of $33,980.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in Arkansas is $27,670 per year, 18.6% below the national median of $33,980. Half of workers earn between $25,600 and $32,310. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $24,230 and the ninetieth at $37,150.
Employment stands at 2,160, or 1.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Arkansas ranks number 34th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Little Rock records the highest median at $28,110. Of the 673 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 657th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,230 | −28.7% |
| 25th | $25,600 | −24.7% |
| Median (50th) | $27,670 | −18.6% |
| 75th | $32,310 | −4.9% |
| 90th | $37,150 | +9.3% |
| Mean | $30,140 | −11.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Rock | $28,110 | 630 | |
| 2 | Fayetteville | $28,100 | 530 | |
| 3 | Jonesboro | $28,040 | 110 | |
| 4 | Fort Smith | $27,870 | 150 | |
| 5 | Hot Springs | $26,350 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $27,670 goes as far as $31,841 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,841US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,670 a year, 18.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $24,230 to $37,150 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,160 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 34th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Little Rock, at $28,110.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $27,670, or $13.30 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 $33,980, so pay in Arkansas is 18.6% 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 $37,150 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $24,230 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 Little Rock, at $28,110 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,160 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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