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Cooks, Fast Food Employment & Job Outlook in Arkansas (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

Arkansas employs 7,860 Cooks, Fast Food professionals, below the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • Arkansas employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
7,860
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
7.86
workers
Location Quotient
0.6
vs national avg
Average Salary
$27K
annual

Below Average Demand in Arkansas

The location quotient (LQ) of 0.6 indicates that Arkansas has a below-average concentration of Cooks, Fast Food professionals. This may suggest fewer local opportunities compared to other states, though national trends should also be considered.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

Arkansas vs National Average

Total Employed
7,860
National: 638,250
1.2% of national
Jobs per 1,000
7.86
National: 13.03
-39.7%
Average Salary
$27K
National: $32K
-14.7%

Top States by Cooks, Fast Food Employment

#1
124,440
124,440
employed
#2
81,980
81,980
employed
#3
55,780
55,780
employed
#4
36,240
36,240
employed
#5
26,740
26,740
employed
#6
22,600
22,600
employed
#7
21,750
21,750
employed
#8
16,490
16,490
employed
#9
14,340
14,340
employed
#10
14,020
14,020
employed

What Does a Cooks, Fast Food Earn in Arkansas?

The average annual salary for a Cooks, Fast Food in Arkansas is $27,770. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Cooks, Fast Food jobs are there in Arkansas?

Arkansas employs approximately 7,860 Cooks, Fast Food professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks Arkansas for this occupation nationwide.

Is Cooks, Fast Food in demand in Arkansas?

Arkansas has average or below-average concentration of Cooks, Fast Food jobs (LQ: 0.6). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Arkansas?

The average (mean) salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Arkansas is $27770/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Cooks, Fast Food professionals?

The top state for Cooks, Fast Food employment is California with 124,440 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

Top Cities in Arkansas

Explore cost of living, median household income, and demographics for Arkansas's largest cities.

Top Colleges in Arkansas

Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at Arkansas's leading institutions.

Cooks, Fast Food Employment in Other States

Compare Cooks, Fast Food labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Cooks, Fast Food & Arkansas Resources

Drill deeper into Cooks, Fast Food pay, hiring, and education data for Arkansas.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Cooks, Fast Food (SOC 352011) in Arkansas.

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