How to Become a Culinary Professional in Arkansas (2026)

Q: How much do culinary professionals earn in Arkansas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), culinary professionals in Arkansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $30,180.

Q: What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in Arkansas?

Arkansas currently employs approximately 11,270 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14.9% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $46,170 ($22.20/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 880 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -26.1% below the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $46,170 ($22.20/hr)
25th percentile: $39,430 per year
75th percentile: $64,970 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $87,730 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $33,500 per year
Workers employed in Arkansas: 880
Versus national median: -26.1% below the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.53 - this occupation is less concentrated in Arkansas than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Arkansas employs about 11,270 culinary professionals earning a median $30,180 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Arkansas.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Arkansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Arkansas Tech University	58.4	$8,674 in-state / $14,668 out-of-state	$49,759	49%	Yes*	48 mi
2	Ozarka College	57.5	$3,820 in-state / $6,820 out-of-state	$46,188	47%	Yes*	80 mi
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3	Southern Missouri Technical Institute	53.5	Contact school for pricing	$40,421	83%	—	125 mi
4	NorthWest Arkansas Community College	52.6	$3,342 in-state / $5,238 out-of-state	$48,056	31%	Yes*	139 mi
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5	South Arkansas College	49.6	$3,324 in-state / $5,532 out-of-state	$48,099	30%	Yes*	123 mi
6	Coahoma Community College	44.1	$3,490	$31,140	41%	Yes*	114 mi
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7	Mississippi Delta Community College	41.8	$3,540	$37,960	31%	Yes*	150 mi
8	University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College	41.7	$6,300 in-state / $9,450 out-of-state	$41,807	36%	Yes*	13 mi
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9	Texarkana College	38.5	$2,476 in-state / $5,332 out-of-state	$41,406	47%	—	144 mi
10	Remington College-Memphis Campus	21.8	$17,083	$33,677	38%	—	134 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Arkansas employs approximately 11,270 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $30,180 ¹. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034, with about 250,700 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Culinary Professional in Arkansas, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (Arkansas): $30,180 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Arkansas

How to become a Culinary Professional in Arkansas? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for culinary professionals in Arkansas.

How long does it take? culinary professional training length in Arkansas varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do culinary professionals earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Arkansas is $30,180 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $26,020 and experienced professionals can earn $37,140 or more ¹.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Arkansas

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Arkansas training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved culinary professional program in Arkansas that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to culinary professionals in Arkansas before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Culinary Professional Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), chefs and head cooks wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	5,980	$38,724	$38,225	$27,992	$48,844
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	4,400	$31,359	$33,114	$27,486	$40,127
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	3,950	$34,311	$35,034	$29,089	$42,364
Fort Smith	1,020	$29,395	$30,332	$24,228	$35,983
Texarkana	770	$30,931	$31,547	$22,356	$39,235
Hot Springs	730	$30,848	$31,789	$24,320	$38,407
Jonesboro	720	$31,430	$33,019	$27,347	$39,062

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 11,270 culinary professionals ¹. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arkansas.

How much do culinary professionals earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Arkansas is $30,180, which is $6,650 below the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In Arkansas

Best Trade Schools in Arkansas (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Arkansas

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)