Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Fort Smith, AR
Cooks, Restaurant in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median $29,370 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,846 take-home, or $2,071 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Fort Smith, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,344
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,821
- Medicare (1.45%)$426
- Arkansas income tax$933
- Take-home pay$24,846
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.90% state
The Fort Smith, AR-OK metro spans Arkansas, Oklahoma. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Fort Smith, AR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,140 | $11.61 | $20,761 | $1,730 |
| 25th percentile | $28,140 | $13.53 | $23,899 | $1,992 |
| Median (50th) | $29,370 | $14.12 | $24,846 | $2,071 |
| 75th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,630 | $2,386 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,200 | $17.40 | $30,068 | $2,506 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,370 buys in Fort Smith, AR
Prices in Fort Smith, AR are 14.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 47% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $24,846 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,928 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 Fort Smith, AR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Fort Smith, AR ranks #298 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 298 | Fort Smith, AR | $29,370 | $24,846 | $28,928 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Arkansas
- Fayetteville, AR — $33,730
- Jonesboro, AR — $30,190
- Little Rock, AR — $30,690
- Hot Springs, AR — $29,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Fort Smith, AR?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $29,370 a year, or about $14.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,140 and $34,320.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Fort Smith, AR?
On the median $29,370 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $24,846 a year ($2,071 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $933 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Fort Smith, AR a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 21% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 14.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,928 would in a typical U.S. city. Fort Smith, AR ranks #298 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Fort Smith, AR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fort Smith, AR is $714 a month ($937 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $30,780
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $29,380
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,480
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,760
- Waiter and Waitress — $23,680