Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Fayetteville, AR
Cooks, Restaurant in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area earn a median $33,730 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,179 take-home, or $2,348 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Fayetteville, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,868
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,091
- Medicare (1.45%)$489
- Arkansas income tax$1,103
- Take-home pay$28,179
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.90% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Fayetteville, AR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,550 | $13.73 | $24,219 | $2,018 |
| 25th percentile | $29,220 | $14.05 | $24,731 | $2,061 |
| Median (50th) | $33,730 | $16.22 | $28,179 | $2,348 |
| 75th percentile | $36,330 | $17.47 | $30,167 | $2,514 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,080 | $18.31 | $31,505 | $2,625 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,730 buys in Fayetteville, AR
Prices in Fayetteville, AR are 8.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $28,179 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,847 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Fayetteville, AR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Fayetteville, AR ranks #83 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 83 | Fayetteville, AR | $33,730 | $28,179 | $30,847 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Arkansas
- Little Rock, AR — $30,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Fayetteville, AR?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area is $33,730 a year, or about $16.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,220 and $36,330.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Fayetteville, AR?
On the median $33,730 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $28,179 a year ($2,348 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,103 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Fayetteville, AR a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 8.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,847 would in a typical U.S. city. Fayetteville, AR ranks #83 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Fayetteville, AR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fayetteville, AR is $1,115 a month ($1,347 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fayetteville, AR
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,080
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,170
- Waiter and Waitress — $26,210