Waiter and Waitress Salary in Fort Smith, AR
Waiters and Waitresses in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median $23,680 a year — 33% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,400 take-home, or $1,700 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Fort Smith, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$758
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,468
- Medicare (1.45%)$343
- Arkansas income tax$711
- Take-home pay$20,400
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.
Waiter and Waitress 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 | $23,140 | $11.13 | $19,976 | $1,665 |
| Median (50th) | $23,680 | $11.38 | $20,400 | $1,700 |
| 75th percentile | $27,580 | $13.26 | $23,459 | $1,955 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,090 | $18.31 | $31,513 | $2,626 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $23,680 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 waiter and waitress's $20,400 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,752 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 Fort Smith, AR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Fort Smith, AR ranks #289 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 |
| 289 | Fort Smith, AR | $23,680 | $20,400 | $23,752 |
*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
- Fayetteville, AR — $26,210
- Hot Springs, AR — $23,550
- Little Rock, AR — $24,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Fort Smith, AR?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $23,680 a year, or about $11.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,140 and $27,580.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Fort Smith, AR?
On the median $23,680 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $20,400 a year ($1,700 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $711 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Fort Smith, AR a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 33% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 14.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,752 would in a typical U.S. city. Fort Smith, AR ranks #289 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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 waiter and waitress’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, Restaurant — $29,370
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,480
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,760