Waiter and Waitress Salary in Little Rock, AR
Waiters and Waitresses in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area earn a median $24,610 a year — 30% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $21,129 take-home, or $1,761 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Little Rock, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$851
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,526
- Medicare (1.45%)$357
- Arkansas income tax$747
- Take-home pay$21,129
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.90% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Little Rock, AR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,200 | $11.15 | $20,023 | $1,669 |
| 25th percentile | $23,630 | $11.36 | $20,360 | $1,697 |
| Median (50th) | $24,610 | $11.83 | $21,129 | $1,761 |
| 75th percentile | $34,800 | $16.73 | $28,997 | $2,416 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,660 | $22.43 | $38,064 | $3,172 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $24,610 buys in Little Rock, AR
Prices in Little Rock, AR are 10.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $21,129 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,644 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 Little Rock, AR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Little Rock, AR ranks #292 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 |
| 292 | Little Rock, AR | $24,610 | $21,129 | $23,644 |
*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
- Fort Smith, AR — $23,680
- Hot Springs, AR — $23,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Little Rock, AR?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area is $24,610 a year, or about $11.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,630 and $34,800.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Little Rock, AR?
On the median $24,610 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $21,129 a year ($1,761 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $747 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Little Rock, AR a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 30% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 10.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,644 would in a typical U.S. city. Little Rock, AR ranks #292 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Little Rock, AR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Little Rock, AR is $984 a month ($1,143 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Little Rock, AR
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $34,320
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,690
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $30,480
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,580
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,110
- Dishwasher — $28,080
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,880
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $27,490
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,470
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,420
- Bartender — $24,540