Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Little Rock
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,670 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Little Rock earn between $28,820 and $35,450.
- $27K10th
- $29K25th
- $30KMedian
- $35K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,220 | $2,768 | $15.97 |
| Median | $30,480 | $2,540 | $14.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,820 | $2,402 | $13.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,450 | $2,954 | $17.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Little Rock vs. Arkansas and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Little Rock earn about the same as the Arkansas average ($32,720) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $33,220 | $30,480 | $26,970 | $42,670 | 1,400 |
| 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 Little Rock
On the average salary of $33,220, a single filer in Little Rock takes home about $28,130 a year, or $2,344 a month and $1,082 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 Little Rock a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Little Rock area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.4), so the average $33,220 buys what about $37,174 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Little Rock ($45,790). A typical home costs $231,039, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Arkansas cities
Little Rock ranks 4th 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Little Rock: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Little Rock?
$15.97 an hour on average, and $14.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Little Rock?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Little Rock?
About $28,130 a year ($2,344 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,220. Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Little Rock than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR (30780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 1.38, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.