Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Fayetteville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,210 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Fayetteville earn between $44,060 and $74,480.
- $34K10th
- $44K25th
- $51KMedian
- $74K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,310 | $4,942 | $28.51 |
| Median | $51,230 | $4,269 | $24.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,060 | $3,672 | $21.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,480 | $6,207 | $35.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Fayetteville vs. Arkansas and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Fayetteville earn 10% more than the Arkansas average ($53,820) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $59,310 | $51,230 | $33,710 | $95,210 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $53,820 | $46,170 | $33,500 | $87,730 | 880 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Fayetteville
On the average salary of $59,310, a single filer in Fayetteville takes home about $48,129 a year, or $4,011 a month and $1,851 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Is Fayetteville a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fayetteville area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.4), so the average $59,310 buys what about $64,924 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Fayetteville ($46,610). A typical home costs $368,497, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Arkansas cities
Fayetteville ranks 1st of 4 Arkansas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Fayetteville$59,310
- Jonesboro$56,950
- Hot Springs$54,720
- Little Rock$53,090
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Fayetteville: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Fayetteville?
$28.51 an hour on average, and $24.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Fayetteville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Fayetteville?
About $48,129 a year ($4,011 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,310. Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Fayetteville than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR (22220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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