Food Batchmakers Salary
Food Batchmakers in Arkansas make a median of $38,990 a year, or about $18.75 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $44,489 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 38.4% 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 $39K get you in Arkansas?
About food batchmakers
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Food batchmakers pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,021/month, which is 38.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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 food batchmakers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Food Batchmakers salary by metro in Arkansas
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | $44K | +14% | 250 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $43K | +10% | 150 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $41K | +6% | 690 |
Compare to other states
Track food batchmakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food batchmaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 38.3% 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 $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food batchmakers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food batchmakers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,877/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 54% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food batchmaker a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for food batchmakers?
Arkansas pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food batchmakers make in Arkansas?
The median is $38,990 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,290, and experienced food batchmakers can clear $48,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,668/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 38.3% 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 food batchmakers 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 food batchmakers salary is worth about $44,489 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food batchmakers 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.