Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Arkansas
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Arkansas (2026)
$14.54 per hour · take-home ≈ $25,482/year ($2,124/month) for a single filer
Arkansas ranks 46th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 20% below the national average. Of the 6,530 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Arkansas, the typical worker earns $30,240 a year — though pay ranges from $25,810 for newcomers to $39,720 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Arkansas
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $25,810 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $28,300 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $30,240 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $35,300 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $39,720 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 6,530 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Arkansas (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Arkansas
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $30,240 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Arkansas state income tax, a single filer keeps about $25,482 — an effective tax rate of 15.7%.
| Gross (median) | $30,240 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,449 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,313 |
| Arkansas state income tax | −$996 |
| Take-home (annual) | $25,482 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,124 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Arkansas paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Arkansas?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Arkansas is $30,240 per year ($14.54 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $28,300 and $35,300.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Arkansas?
- On the median salary of $30,240, a single filer in Arkansas takes home about $25,482 per year ($2,124 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.7%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Arkansas?
- BLS counts 6,530 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Arkansas in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Arkansas
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Arkansas state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Arkansas.