Food Preparation Workers Salary
Food Preparation Workers in Arkansas make a median of $27,660 a year, or about $13.3 an hour. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $36K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $31,561 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 52.2% 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 $28K get you in Arkansas?
About food preparation workers
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for food preparation workers in Arkansas runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,021/month, which is 52.5% 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for food preparation workerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level food preparation workers (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $36K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Food Preparation Workers salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $31K | +10% | 1,040 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $28K | +1% | 1,840 |
| Jonesboro | $28K | -0% | 240 |
| Fort Smith | $27K | -3% | 320 |
| Hot Springs | $26K | -5% | 200 |
Compare to other states
Track food preparation workers 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 preparation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 52.5% 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 $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food preparation workers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food preparation workers typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,441/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 71% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food preparation worker a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $28K here vs. $35K 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 food preparation workers?
Arkansas pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $32K — below the national median.
How much do food preparation workers make in Arkansas?
The median is $27,660 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,020, and experienced food preparation workers can clear $36,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,946/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 52.5% 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 preparation workers 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 preparation workers salary is worth about $31,561 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food preparation workers 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.