Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Fort Smith, AR-OK

Median annual salary $29,800 -18.2% vs national
Median hourly $14.33
10th percentile $23,170
90th percentile $35,210
Employed locally 600
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Fort Smith, AR-OK stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Fort Smith, AR-OK
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,170
    25th
    $25,760
    50th (median)
    $29,800
    75th
    $30,530
    90th
    $35,210

    Fort Smith economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $56,717 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 53% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 47% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Alaska nonmetropolitan area $48,080
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $48,000
    Barnstable Town, MA $47,420
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $46,760

    Related occupations in Fort Smith, AR-OK

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $24,610
    Waiters and Waitresses $25,960
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $29,750
    Cooks, Restaurant $28,100
    Cooks, Fast Food $23,580
    Food Preparation Workers $26,770

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Fort Smith?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Fort Smith, AR-OK is $14.33, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.39 or more per hour.

    Is Fort Smith above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK is 18.2% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Fort Smith?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $23,170 per year in Fort Smith, AR-OK. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $25,760.