Food Preparation Worker Salary in Fayetteville, AR
Food Preparation Workers in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area earn a median $30,560 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,756 take-home, or $2,146 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Fayetteville, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,487
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,895
- Medicare (1.45%)$443
- Arkansas income tax$979
- Take-home pay$25,756
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.90% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Fayetteville, AR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,600 | $12.79 | $22,690 | $1,891 |
| 25th percentile | $27,670 | $13.30 | $23,530 | $1,961 |
| Median (50th) | $30,560 | $14.69 | $25,756 | $2,146 |
| 75th percentile | $35,800 | $17.21 | $29,762 | $2,480 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,440 | $18.00 | $31,016 | $2,585 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,560 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 food preparation worker's $25,756 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,194 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are less concentrated in Fayetteville, AR than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Fayetteville, AR ranks #169 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 169 | Fayetteville, AR | $30,560 | $25,756 | $28,194 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Arkansas
- Little Rock, AR — $27,880
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Fayetteville, AR?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area is $30,560 a year, or about $14.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,670 and $35,800.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Fayetteville, AR?
On the median $30,560 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $25,756 a year ($2,146 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $979 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Fayetteville, AR a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 8.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,194 would in a typical U.S. city. Fayetteville, AR ranks #169 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 52% of a median food preparation worker’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
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,730
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $33,430
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $29,200
- Dishwasher — $28,800
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,100
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,710
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,630
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,170
- Bartender — $26,570
- Waiter and Waitress — $26,210