Waiter and Waitress salary in Arkansas
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in Arkansas earns a median of $24,680 a year ($11.87/hour equivalent), 29.9% below the national median of $35,230. Arkansas ranks #42 of 51 states. About 17,880 people do this job in Arkansas.
Take-home pay in Arkansas
At the Arkansas median, a single filer keeps about $21,496 a year after federal, FICA and Arkansas taxes — $827 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Arkansas paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $949.23
- Federal income tax
- −$33.00
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$58.85
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$13.76
- Arkansas income tax
- −$16.85
- Take-home pay
- $826.76
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $24,680
- Federal
- $858
- FICA
- $1,888
- State + local
- $438
- Net
- $21,496
- 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 | Hawaii | $62,390 |
| #2 | Vermont | $59,140 |
| #3 | Washington | $56,130 |
| #4 | Oregon | $48,410 |
| #5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| #42 | Arkansas | $24,680 |
| #49 | South Carolina | $18,370 |
| #50 | Oklahoma | $17,910 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $15,080 |
See the national waiter and waitress salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Arkansas?
The median salary is $24,680 a year and the average is $29,050 (BLS May 2025).
Is Arkansas a good state for waiters and waitresses?
Arkansas ranks #42 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 30% below the national median of $35,230.
What is $24,680 after taxes in Arkansas?
About $21,496 a year ($827 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.