SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Waterbury
Waterbury-Shelton, CT · 3 metro areas compared
In Waterbury, CT the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food is $34,180 a year, which is 10.7% higher than the national figure of $30,890.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Waterbury, CT the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food is $34,180 a year, which is 10.7% higher than the national figure of $30,890. Half of workers earn between $34,010 and $34,970. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $34,010 and the ninetieth at $37,350.
The area has 320 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.48 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Bridgeport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $35,810. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 381st of 387 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,010 | +10.1% |
| 25th | $34,010 | +10.1% |
| Median (50th) | $34,180 | +10.7% |
| 75th | $34,970 | +13.2% |
| 90th | $37,350 | +20.9% |
| Mean | $35,230 | +14.0% |
Other metro areas in Connecticut
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgeport | $35,810 | 790 | |
| 2 | Hartford | $34,880 | 1,330 | |
| 3 | New Haven | $34,850 | 720 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Waterbury run 3.6% above the national average, so the median of $34,180 buys what $32,992 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 6.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,180as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,992US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,180 a year, 10.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,010 to $37,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 320 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bridgeport, at $35,810.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Waterbury, CT?
The median annual wage is $34,180, or $16.44 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 $30,890, so pay in Waterbury, CT is 10.7% higher. 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 $37,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,010 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 $35,810 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 320 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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