SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — Arkansas
Arkansas · 5 metro areas compared
In Arkansas the median wage is $27,600.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Arkansas the median wage is $27,600. That is 21.9% lower than the national median of $35,360. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $26,420 and $29,330. The lowest tenth earn under $23,920, while the highest tenth earn more than $34,430.
Employment stands at 3,540, or 2.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Arkansas ranks 49th by median wage. Fayetteville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $29,200. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 661st of 673 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,920 | −32.4% |
| 25th | $26,420 | −25.3% |
| Median (50th) | $27,600 | −21.9% |
| 75th | $29,330 | −17.1% |
| 90th | $34,430 | −2.6% |
| Mean | $29,110 | −17.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $29,200 | 850 | |
| 2 | Jonesboro | $27,740 | 130 | |
| 3 | Hot Springs | $27,600 | 230 | |
| 4 | Little Rock | $27,490 | 1,000 | |
| 5 | Fort Smith | $27,040 | 210 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $27,600 goes as far as $31,761 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,600as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,761US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,600 a year, 21.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,920 to $34,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,540 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 49th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fayetteville, at $29,200.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $27,600, or $13.27 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 $35,360, so pay in Arkansas is 21.9% 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 $34,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,920 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 $29,200 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,540 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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