Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Jonesboro
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $89,040 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Jonesboro earn between $40,460 and $68,340.
- $39K10th
- $40K25th
- $53KMedian
- $68K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,950 | $4,746 | $27.38 |
| Median | $52,970 | $4,414 | $25.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,460 | $3,372 | $19.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $68,340 | $5,695 | $32.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Jonesboro vs. Arkansas and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Jonesboro earn 6% more than the Arkansas average ($53,820) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro | $56,950 | $52,970 | $38,880 | $89,040 | 40 |
| Arkansas | $53,820 | $46,170 | $33,500 | $87,730 | 880 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Jonesboro
On the average salary of $56,950, a single filer in Jonesboro takes home about $46,319 a year, or $3,860 a month and $1,782 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Is Jonesboro a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Jonesboro area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $56,950 buys what about $66,317 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Jonesboro ($42,240). A typical home costs $205,822, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Arkansas cities
Jonesboro ranks 2nd of 4 Arkansas metro areas for this job; Fayetteville pays the most ($59,310).
- Fayetteville$59,310
- Jonesboro$56,950
- Hot Springs$54,720
- Little Rock$53,090
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Jonesboro: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Jonesboro?
$27.38 an hour on average, and $25.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Jonesboro?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Jonesboro?
About $46,319 a year ($3,860 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,950. Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Jonesboro than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Jonesboro, AR (27860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).
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