Waiter and Waitress Salary in Fayetteville, AR
Waiters and Waitresses in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area earn a median $26,210 a year — 26% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,384 take-home, or $1,865 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Fayetteville, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,011
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,625
- Medicare (1.45%)$380
- Arkansas income tax$809
- Take-home pay$22,384
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.90% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Fayetteville, AR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,370 | $11.24 | $20,156 | $1,680 |
| 25th percentile | $24,710 | $11.88 | $21,208 | $1,767 |
| Median (50th) | $26,210 | $12.60 | $22,384 | $1,865 |
| 75th percentile | $32,010 | $15.39 | $26,864 | $2,239 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,620 | $21.45 | $36,505 | $3,042 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,210 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 waiter and waitress's $22,384 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,503 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Fayetteville, AR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Fayetteville, AR ranks #283 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 283 | Fayetteville, AR | $26,210 | $22,384 | $24,503 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Arkansas
- Jonesboro, AR — $24,680
- Fort Smith, AR — $23,680
- Hot Springs, AR — $23,550
- Little Rock, AR — $24,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Fayetteville, AR?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metro area is $26,210 a year, or about $12.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $24,710 and $32,010.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Fayetteville, AR?
On the median $26,210 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $22,384 a year ($1,865 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $809 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Fayetteville, AR a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 26% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 8.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,503 would in a typical U.S. city. Fayetteville, AR ranks #283 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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) — 60% of a median waiter and waitress’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 Preparation Worker — $30,560
- 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