Quick answer
Food Preparation Workers in Arkansas earned a median of $27,660 a year ($13.30 an hour) in May 2025, 22% below the national median of $35,320; 5,500 were employed there, ranking #49 of 54 states and territories by median pay, per BLS OEWS.
Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
| Measure | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $27,660 | $35,320 |
| Mean annual wage | $29,460 | $35,290 |
| Median hourly wage | $13.30 | $16.98 |
| 10th percentile | $24,020 | $25,810 |
| 25th percentile | $25,900 | $29,950 |
| 75th percentile | $32,390 | $38,550 |
| 90th percentile | $36,260 | $45,340 |
| Employment | 5,500 | 893,600 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 4.219 | — |
| Location quotient | 0.73 | 1.00 |
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- Food Preparation Workers salary in District of Columbia (May 2025)
Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.