Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Fort Smith, AR
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median $23,760 a year — 24% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,462 take-home, or $1,705 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Fort Smith, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$766
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,473
- Medicare (1.45%)$345
- Arkansas income tax$714
- Take-home pay$20,462
Marginal rate: 10% 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.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in Fort Smith, AR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,880 | $11.00 | $19,772 | $1,648 |
| 25th percentile | $23,190 | $11.15 | $20,015 | $1,668 |
| Median (50th) | $23,760 | $11.42 | $20,462 | $1,705 |
| 75th percentile | $27,390 | $13.17 | $23,310 | $1,943 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $29,230 | $14.05 | $24,739 | $2,062 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $23,760 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 fast food and counter worker's $20,462 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,825 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Fast Food and Counter Worker jobs are about as common in Fort Smith, AR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Fort Smith, AR ranks #220 of 241 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto, CA | $42,630 | $35,184 | $33,796 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $44,110 | $36,295 | $33,458 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $43,610 | $35,920 | $33,326 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $44,570 | $36,640 | $33,182 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $42,860 | $35,357 | $33,146 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $41,740 | $34,517 | $32,845 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $42,280 | $34,922 | $32,808 |
| 8 | Salinas, CA | $43,260 | $35,657 | $32,701 |
| 220 | Fort Smith, AR | $23,760 | $20,462 | $23,825 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 241 metros →
About the job: fast food and counter workers
Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages. Counter attendants who also wait tables are included in "Waiters and Waitresses" (35-3031),
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.8% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Fast Food and Counter Worker salaries elsewhere in Arkansas
- Little Rock, AR — $27,470
- Fayetteville, AR — $27,170
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Fort Smith, AR?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $23,760 a year, or about $11.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,190 and $27,390.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Fort Smith, AR?
On the median $23,760 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $20,462 a year ($1,705 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $714 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Fort Smith, AR a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 24% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 14.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,825 would in a typical U.S. city. Fort Smith, AR ranks #220 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker 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) — 42% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.