Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Little Rock, AR

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR

Median annual salary $46,920 -23.1% vs national
Median hourly $22.56
10th percentile $35,820
90th percentile $77,630
Employed locally 260
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

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

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Little Rock, AR
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,820
    25th
    $38,480
    50th (median)
    $46,920
    75th
    $51,670
    90th
    $77,630

    Little Rock economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,309 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 72% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 28% 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 Little Rock, AR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,250
    Waiters and Waitresses $26,470
    Cooks, Restaurant $29,810
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $34,260
    Food Preparation Workers $26,770
    Cooks, Fast Food $24,900

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Little Rock, AR is $22.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $43.67 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Little Rock, AR is 23.1% 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 Little Rock?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $35,820 per year in Little Rock, AR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,480.