Salaries › Fast Food Cook › Arkansas
Fast Food Cook Salary in Arkansas (2026)
$13.32 per hour · take-home ≈ $23,532/year ($1,961/month) for a single filer
Arkansas ranks 42nd of 51 states for Fast Food Cook pay, with a median about 13% below the national average. Of the 7,860 Fast Food Cook jobs BLS counts in Arkansas, the typical worker earns $27,710 a year — though pay ranges from $23,770 for newcomers to $32,720 at the top.
Fast Food Cook pay range in Arkansas
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $23,770 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $24,600 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $27,710 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $29,150 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $32,720 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 7,860 Fast Food Cook jobs in Arkansas (occupation code 35-2011, “Cooks, Fast Food”).
Gross vs. take-home in Arkansas
A median Fast Food Cook salary of $27,710 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 $23,532 — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
| Gross (median) | $27,710 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,161 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,120 |
| Arkansas state income tax | −$897 |
| Take-home (annual) | $23,532 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $1,961 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Arkansas paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Fast Food Cook make in Arkansas?
- The median Fast Food Cook salary in Arkansas is $27,710 per year ($13.32 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $24,600 and $29,150.
- What is the take-home pay for a Fast Food Cook in Arkansas?
- On the median salary of $27,710, a single filer in Arkansas takes home about $23,532 per year ($1,961 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
- How many Fast Food Cook jobs are there in Arkansas?
- BLS counts 7,860 Fast Food Cook jobs in Arkansas in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Fast Food 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.