Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Little Rock, AR

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

Median annual salary $29,850 -18.1% vs national
Median hourly $14.35
10th percentile $26,400
90th percentile $38,760
Employed locally 1,360
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,400
    25th
    $28,110
    50th (median)
    $29,850
    75th
    $33,440
    90th
    $38,760

    Little Rock economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,309 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 46% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 54% 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 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 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Little Rock?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Little Rock, AR is $14.35, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.52 or more per hour.

    Is Little Rock above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Little Rock, AR is 18.1% 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 Little Rock?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $26,400 per year in Little Rock, AR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,110.