Food Preparation Workers pay range in Jonesboro
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,940 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Jonesboro earn between $26,040 and $31,810.
- $24K10th
- $26K25th
- $28KMedian
- $32K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,220 | $2,435 | $14.05 |
| Median | $27,580 | $2,298 | $13.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,040 | $2,170 | $12.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,810 | $2,651 | $15.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Jonesboro vs. Arkansas and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Jonesboro earn about the same as the Arkansas average ($29,460) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro | $29,220 | $27,580 | $24,060 | $35,940 | 240 |
| Arkansas | $29,460 | $27,660 | $24,020 | $36,260 | 5,500 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Jonesboro
On the average salary of $29,220, a single filer in Jonesboro takes home about $25,064 a year, or $2,089 a month and $964 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% 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 Jonesboro a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Jonesboro area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $29,220 buys what about $34,026 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Jonesboro ($42,240). A typical home costs $205,822, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Arkansas cities
Jonesboro ranks 3rd of 5 Arkansas metro areas for this job; Fayetteville pays the most ($32,070).
- Fayetteville$32,070
- Little Rock$30,250
- Jonesboro$29,220
- Fort Smith$28,300
- Hot Springs$28,210
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Jonesboro: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Jonesboro?
$14.05 an hour on average, and $13.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Jonesboro?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Jonesboro?
About $25,064 a year ($2,089 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,220. Arkansas tax is estimated with the Department of Finance and Administration's 2026 withholding formula.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Jonesboro than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Jonesboro, AR (27860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 0.68, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.68).
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