Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Waiters and Waitresses actually take home in Arkansas?
Progressive (up to 4.4%) — 15.6% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Waiters and Waitresses earning $24,680 in Arkansas (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $24,680 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$1,008 | 4.1% |
| Arkansas State Income Tax | -$965 | 3.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,530 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$357 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$3,861 | 15.6% |
| Take-Home Pay | $20,818 | 84.4% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $23,040 | -$3,500 | $19,539 | 15.2% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $23,430 | -$3,586 | $19,843 | 15.3% |
| Median (P50) | $24,680 | -$3,861 | $20,818 | 15.6% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $30,450 | -$5,219 | $25,230 | 17.1% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $43,810 | -$8,432 | $35,377 | 19.2% |
After federal income tax ($1,008), state tax ($965), and FICA ($1,888), a Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas takes home $20,818 per year — or $1,734 per month. The effective tax rate of 15.6% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas faces an effective total tax rate of only 15.6%, keeping 84.4% of every gross dollar. That leaves $20,818 net out of $24,680 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Arkansas uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Waiters and Waitresses salary the state tax works out to $966 (3.9% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Waiters and Waitresses salary is $1,008 (26%), but combined state ($966, 25%) + FICA ($1,888, 49%) make up the other 74% of the bill.
A Waiters and Waitresses earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $21,784 — only $966 (4.6%) more than in Arkansas.
Arkansas sits near the bottom (#43 of 51) for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $20,818 net/year works out to $1,735/month or $801/bi-weekly for this Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Waiters and Waitresses keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Arkansas ranks #43 out of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax take-home pay.
A Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas earning a median salary of $24,680 will take home approximately $20,818 per year after federal income tax ($1,008), state income tax ($965), and FICA ($1,888). That is $1,734 per month or $800 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas is 15.6%, broken down as: federal income tax 4.1%, Arkansas state tax 3.9%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Arkansas has a progressive (up to 4.4%). On a Waiters and Waitresses's median salary of $24,680, the state income tax amounts to $965 per year, which is an effective state rate of 3.9%.
After all taxes, a Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas takes home approximately $1,734 per month, or about $10.01 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $24,680 for Waiters and Waitresses in Arkansas, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Arkansas state income tax (progressive (up to 4.4%)), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $20,818/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR