Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Fayetteville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,830 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Fayetteville earn between $29,280 and $35,840.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $33KMedian
- $36K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,410 | $2,951 | $17.02 |
| Median | $33,430 | $2,786 | $16.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,280 | $2,440 | $14.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,840 | $2,987 | $17.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Fayetteville vs. Arkansas and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Fayetteville earn 8% more than the Arkansas average ($32,720) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $35,410 | $33,430 | $28,340 | $44,830 | 1,290 |
| Arkansas | $32,720 | $30,240 | $25,810 | $39,720 | 6,530 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Fayetteville
On the average salary of $35,410, a single filer in Fayetteville takes home about $29,809 a year, or $2,484 a month and $1,146 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 Fayetteville a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fayetteville area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.4), so the average $35,410 buys what about $38,762 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Fayetteville ($46,610). A typical home costs $368,497, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Arkansas cities
Fayetteville ranks 2nd of 5 Arkansas metro areas for this job; Jonesboro pays the most ($39,240).
- Jonesboro$39,240
- Fayetteville$35,410
- Hot Springs$34,230
- Little Rock$33,220
- Fort Smith$29,760
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Fayetteville: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Fayetteville?
$17.02 an hour on average, and $16.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Fayetteville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Fayetteville?
About $29,809 a year ($2,484 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,410. Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Fayetteville than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR (22220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 1.65, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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