SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Waterbury
Waterbury-Shelton, CT · 4 metro areas compared
At $59,080, median pay for Chefs and Head Cooks in Waterbury, CT tracks the national median of $62,470 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $59,080, median pay for Chefs and Head Cooks in Waterbury, CT tracks the national median of $62,470 closely. Pay ranges from under $36,250 at the tenth percentile to more than $92,940 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $49,750 to $74,950.
Employment stands at 270, or 1.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Bridgeport records the highest median at $66,930. Of the 387 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 217th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,250 | −42.0% |
| 25th | $49,750 | −20.4% |
| Median (50th) | $59,080 | −5.4% |
| 75th | $74,950 | +20.0% |
| 90th | $92,940 | +48.8% |
| Mean | $65,270 | +4.5% |
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 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Waterbury run 3.6% above the national average, so the median of $59,080 buys what $57,027 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,080as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$57,027US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,080 a year, 5.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,250 to $92,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 270 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 Waterbury, CT?
The median annual wage is $59,080, or $28.41 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 Waterbury, CT is 5.4% 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 Waterbury, CT earns more than $92,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,250 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 270 jobs in this occupation in Waterbury, 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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