SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Connecticut
Connecticut nonmetropolitan area · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Connecticut, CT is $62,370 per year, close to the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Connecticut, CT is $62,370 per year, close to the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $47,940 at the tenth percentile to more than $95,310 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $57,390 to $76,620.
Employment stands at 140, or 2.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Bridgeport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $66,930. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 128th of 267 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,940 | −23.3% |
| 25th | $57,390 | −8.1% |
| Median (50th) | $62,370 | −0.2% |
| 75th | $76,620 | +22.7% |
| 90th | $95,310 | +52.6% |
| Mean | $68,910 | +10.3% |
Other metro areas in Connecticut
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgeport | $66,930 | 760 | |
| 2 | New Haven | $66,700 | 460 | |
| 3 | Hartford | $62,820 | 1,110 | |
| 4 | Norwich | $62,220 | 330 | |
| 5 | Waterbury | $59,080 | 270 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Connecticut run 3.6% above the national average, so the median of $62,370 buys what $60,203 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 3.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,370as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$60,203US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,370 a year, 0.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,940 to $95,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 140 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bridgeport, at $66,930.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Connecticut, CT?
The median annual wage is $62,370, or $29.99 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Connecticut, CT is 0.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Connecticut, CT earns more than $95,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,940 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Bridgeport, at $66,930 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 140 jobs in this occupation in Connecticut, CT. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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