Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Fayetteville, AR

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

Median annual salary $31,060 -15.7% vs national
Median hourly $14.93
10th percentile $27,660
90th percentile $37,930
Employed locally 2,550
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,660
    25th
    $29,130
    50th (median)
    $31,060
    75th
    $37,190
    90th
    $37,930

    Fayetteville economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,979 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 40% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 60% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340
    Barnstable Town, MA $45,920
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $45,040
    Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $44,370

    Related occupations in Fayetteville, AR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,840
    Waiters and Waitresses$26,870
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,360
    Cooks, Fast Food$24,710
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$32,540
    Food Preparation Workers$31,580

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Fayetteville?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Fayetteville, AR is $14.93, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.31 or more per hour.

    Is Fayetteville above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Fayetteville, AR is 15.7% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Fayetteville?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $27,660 per year in Fayetteville, AR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,130.