SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — East Arkansas
East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in East Arkansas, AR is $26,250 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,360 — a gap of 25.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in East Arkansas, AR is $26,250 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,360 — a gap of 25.8%. Pay ranges from under $23,920 at the tenth percentile to more than $30,040 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $23,920 to $27,540.
The area has 170 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.5 of every thousand jobs. 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 231st of 238 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,920 | −32.4% |
| 25th | $23,920 | −32.4% |
| Median (50th) | $26,250 | −25.8% |
| 75th | $27,540 | −22.1% |
| 90th | $30,040 | −15.0% |
| Mean | $26,580 | −24.8% |
Other 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 East Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $26,250 goes as far as $30,207 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$26,250as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,207US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $26,250 a year, 25.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,920 to $30,040 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 170 jobs in 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 East Arkansas, AR?
The median annual wage is $26,250, or $12.62 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 East Arkansas, AR is 25.8% 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 East Arkansas, AR earns more than $30,040 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 170 jobs in this occupation in East Arkansas, 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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