Hot Springs, AR · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Hot Springs, AR

In the Hot Springs, AR metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $27,300 ($13.13/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $23,700/year and the 90th was $35,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Arkansas tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $23,564 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 85.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$27,300$13.13 per hour · $2,275 monthly
10th Percentile$23,700$11.39/hr base
25th Percentile$25,500$12.26/hr base
75th Percentile$31,900$15.34/hr base
90th Percentile$35,800$17.21/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$27,300
$15,000$55,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$27,300
Net 86%
Fed 4%
AR 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$23,564After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,964Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$906Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,120 / yr
Arkansas state income tax$527 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,088 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Hot Springs, AR

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Hot Springs, AR Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (AR)
10th Percentile$11.39/hr$1,975$23,700$20,722
25th Percentile$12.26/hr$2,125$25,500$22,143
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$13.13/hr$2,275$27,300$23,564
75th Percentile$15.34/hr$2,658$31,900$27,113
90th Percentile$17.21/hr$2,983$35,800$30,094

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Hot Springs, AR

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$27,300 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$57,181Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index85.714.3% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio47.7%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Arkansas:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Hot Springs, AR

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Hot Springs, AR?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Hot Springs, AR is $27,300, which equates to approximately $2,275 per month or $13.13 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Hot Springs, AR?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Hot Springs, AR is $13.13 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $11.39/hour and one in ten earned more than $17.21/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Hot Springs, AR?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Hot Springs, AR span from $23,700 at the 10th percentile to $25,500 at the 25th, $31,900 at the 75th, and $35,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Hot Springs, AR?

On a median gross salary of $27,300, an estimated $23,564 lands in net take-home pay per year ($906 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Arkansas in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $3,736 (an effective rate of 13.7%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Hot Springs, AR?

On the median annual salary of $27,300, gross monthly income is $2,275. After federal, FICA, and Arkansas state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,964 per month (or $906 every two weeks).

Is $27,300 a good salary in Hot Springs, AR?

At $27,300, the median salary for food preparation workers is 47.7% of the Hot Springs, AR median household income ($57,181). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 85.7, making regional consumer goods and services 14.3% cheaper than the U.S. average.