Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK

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

Median annual salary $28,100 -23.7% vs national
Median hourly $13.51
10th percentile $23,540
90th percentile $35,550
Employed locally 840
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,540
    25th
    $26,860
    50th (median)
    $28,100
    75th
    $33,610
    90th
    $35,550

    Fort Smith economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $56,717 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 50% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 50% 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 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, Institution and Cafeteria $29,800
    Cooks, Fast Food $23,580
    Food Preparation Workers $26,770

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Fort Smith?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Fort Smith, AR-OK is $13.51, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.41 or more per hour.

    Is Fort Smith above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK is 23.7% 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 Fort Smith?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $23,540 per year in Fort Smith, AR-OK. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $26,860.