Salaries › Food Prep Worker › Arkansas
Food Prep Worker Salary in Arkansas (2026)
$13.30 per hour · take-home ≈ $23,493/year ($1,958/month) for a single filer
Food Prep Worker pay range in Arkansas
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $24,020 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $25,900 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $27,660 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $32,390 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $36,260 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 5,500 Food Prep Worker jobs in Arkansas (occupation code 35-2021, “Food Preparation Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Arkansas
A median Food Prep Worker salary of $27,660 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 $23,493 — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
| Gross (median) | $27,660 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,156 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,116 |
| Arkansas state income tax | −$895 |
| Take-home (annual) | $23,493 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $1,958 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Arkansas paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Food Prep Worker make in Arkansas?
- The median Food Prep Worker salary in Arkansas is $27,660 per year ($13.30 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $25,900 and $32,390.
- What is the take-home pay for a Food Prep Worker in Arkansas?
- On the median salary of $27,660, a single filer in Arkansas takes home about $23,493 per year ($1,958 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
- How many Food Prep Worker jobs are there in Arkansas?
- BLS counts 5,500 Food Prep Worker jobs in Arkansas in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Food Prep Workers
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.