Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in Arkansas make a median of $46,170 a year, or about $22.2 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $88K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $52,681 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 32.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in Arkansas?
About chefs and head cooks
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for chefs and head cooks in Arkansas runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $88K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in Arkansas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs | $58K | +26% | 40 |
| Jonesboro | $53K | +15% | 40 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $51K | +11% | 220 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $44K | -5% | 230 |
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 32.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,010/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chefs and head cook a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $46K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
Arkansas pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Arkansas?
The median is $46,170 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,500, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $87,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,125/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 32.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $52,681 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chefs and head cooks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.