Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Jonesboro, AR
Cooks, Restaurant in the Jonesboro, AR metro area earn a median $30,190 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,473 take-home, or $2,123 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Jonesboro, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,443
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,872
- Medicare (1.45%)$438
- Arkansas income tax$965
- Take-home pay$25,473
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.90% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Jonesboro, AR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,780 | $12.88 | $22,832 | $1,903 |
| 25th percentile | $28,490 | $13.70 | $24,173 | $2,014 |
| Median (50th) | $30,190 | $14.51 | $25,473 | $2,123 |
| 75th percentile | $35,640 | $17.13 | $29,640 | $2,470 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,650 | $18.10 | $31,176 | $2,598 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,190 buys in Jonesboro, AR
Prices in Jonesboro, AR are 14.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 46% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $25,473 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,663 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 Jonesboro, AR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Jonesboro, AR ranks #273 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 |
| 273 | Jonesboro, AR | $30,190 | $25,473 | $29,663 |
*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
- Little Rock, AR — $30,690
- Fort Smith, AR — $29,370
- Hot Springs, AR — $29,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Jonesboro, AR?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Jonesboro, AR metro area is $30,190 a year, or about $14.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,490 and $35,640.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Jonesboro, AR?
On the median $30,190 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $25,473 a year ($2,123 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $965 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Jonesboro, AR a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 14.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,663 would in a typical U.S. city. Jonesboro, AR ranks #273 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Jonesboro, AR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Jonesboro, AR is $838 a month ($1,013 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Jonesboro, AR
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $31,270
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,580
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,260
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,680