Cook salary in Arkansas
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A cook in Arkansas earns a median of $30,180 a year ($14.51/hour equivalent), 19.3% below the national median of $37,390. Arkansas ranks #48 of 51 states. About 11,270 people do this job in Arkansas.
Take-home pay in Arkansas
At the Arkansas median, a single filer keeps about $25,801 a year after federal, FICA and Arkansas taxes — $992 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Arkansas paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,160.77
- Federal income tax
- −$55.45
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$71.97
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$16.83
- Arkansas income tax
- −$24.20
- Take-home pay
- $992.33
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $30,180
- Federal
- $1,442
- FICA
- $2,309
- State + local
- $629
- Net
- $25,801
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 3.7%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Arkansas compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington | $46,800 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| #3 | Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| #4 | Hawaii | $45,420 |
| #5 | Vermont | $45,390 |
| #48 | Arkansas | $30,180 |
| #49 | West Virginia | $29,590 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $29,560 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $29,050 |
See the national cook salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make in Arkansas?
The median salary is $30,180 a year and the average is $31,650 (BLS May 2025).
Is Arkansas a good state for cooks?
Arkansas ranks #48 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 19% below the national median of $37,390.
What is $30,180 after taxes in Arkansas?
About $25,801 a year ($992 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.