Food Preparation Workers Salary in Arkansas
In Arkansas, food preparation workers earn a median $27,660 a year, well below the national median of $35,320 (−22%); the state ranks 48th of 51 states by median. That is 37% less than the median across all occupations in Arkansas ($43,630). Among neighbouring states, Missouri, Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma pay more (up to $31,510 in Missouri) and Mississippi and Louisiana pay less (down to $23,620 in Louisiana). Arkansas employs 5,500 food preparation workers, 4.22 per 1,000 jobs, the 37th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.73 means it is less common in Arkansas than nationally.
Arkansas vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Arkansas | Hourly | $11.55 | $12.45 | $13.30 | $15.57 | $17.44 | $14.17 | 5,500 | 4.22 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $24,020 | $25,900 | $27,660 | $32,390 | $36,260 | $29,460 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.41 | $14.40 | $16.98 | $18.53 | $21.80 | $16.96 | 893,600 | – | – |
| Annual | $25,810 | $29,950 | $35,320 | $38,550 | $45,340 | $35,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 48th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 37th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.73
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.22
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Arkansas's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Arkansas
7 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Arkansas publish a row for food preparation workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $14.69 | $30,560 | $26,600 | $37,440 | 1,040 | 3.79 | 0.66 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $13.41 | $27,880 | $24,420 | $36,190 | 1,840 | 5.15 | 0.90 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $13.26 | $27,580 | $24,060 | $35,940 | 240 | 3.94 | 0.68 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $13.12 | $27,290 | $22,370 | $37,240 | 3,530 | 5.76 | 1.00 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $13.12 | $27,290 | $21,580 | $35,600 | 310 | 5.44 | 0.95 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $12.93 | $26,900 | $23,460 | $36,460 | 320 | 3.33 | 0.58 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $12.66 | $26,340 | $23,150 | $34,830 | 200 | 5.27 | 0.92 |
| West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $13.11 | $27,270 | $23,350 | $33,830 | 390 | 4.51 | 0.78 |
| East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $12.76 | $26,550 | $22,880 | $33,790 | 260 | 3.82 | 0.67 |
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $12.67 | $26,340 | $23,350 | $34,150 | 530 | 4.46 | 0.78 |
| South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $12.30 | $25,580 | $23,350 | $32,390 | 500 | 4.28 | 0.74 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (every state ranked) and the Arkansas wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Arkansas estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.