Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Fayetteville, AR

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR

Median annual salary $51,970 -14.8% vs national
Median hourly $24.99
10th percentile $38,700
90th percentile $102,080
Employed locally 260
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Fayetteville, AR stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Fayetteville, AR
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,700
    25th
    $43,010
    50th (median)
    $51,970
    75th
    $74,300
    90th
    $102,080

    Fayetteville economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,979 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 67% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 33% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $78,930
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $78,390
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $78,050
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $74,990

    Related occupations in Fayetteville, AR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,840
    Waiters and Waitresses $26,870
    Cooks, Restaurant $31,060
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,360
    Cooks, Fast Food $24,710
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $32,540

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Fayetteville?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Fayetteville, AR is $24.99, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.78 or more per hour.

    Is Fayetteville above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Fayetteville, AR is 14.8% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Fayetteville?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $38,700 per year in Fayetteville, AR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,010.