Food Preparation Worker salary in Arkansas
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation worker in Arkansas earns a median of $27,660 a year ($13.30/hour equivalent), 21.7% below the national median of $35,320. Arkansas ranks #48 of 51 states. About 5,500 people do this job in Arkansas.
Take-home pay in Arkansas
At the Arkansas median, a single filer keeps about $23,849 a year after federal, FICA and Arkansas taxes — $917 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Arkansas paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,063.85
- Federal income tax
- −$44.46
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$65.96
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$15.43
- Arkansas income tax
- −$20.75
- Take-home pay
- $917.25
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $27,660
- Federal
- $1,156
- FICA
- $2,116
- State + local
- $539
- Net
- $23,849
- Marginal federal rate
- 10.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 3.4%
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 | $40,910 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| #3 | California | $39,350 |
| #4 | Colorado | $38,960 |
| #5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| #48 | Arkansas | $27,660 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $26,850 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $26,240 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $23,620 |
See the national food preparation worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Arkansas?
The median salary is $27,660 a year and the average is $29,460 (BLS May 2025).
Is Arkansas a good state for food preparation workers?
Arkansas ranks #48 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 22% below the national median of $35,320.
What is $27,660 after taxes in Arkansas?
About $23,849 a year ($917 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.