SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Connecticut
Connecticut · 5 metro areas compared
In Connecticut the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is $46,120 a year, which is 23.2% higher than the national figure of $37,450.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Connecticut the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is $46,120 a year, which is 23.2% higher than the national figure of $37,450. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $39,960 and $48,990. The lowest tenth earn under $38,380, while the highest tenth earn more than $56,570.
The area has 4,500 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.94 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Connecticut ranks number 8th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Bridgeport records the highest median at $47,380. Of the 674 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 528th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,380 | +2.5% |
| 25th | $39,960 | +6.7% |
| Median (50th) | $46,120 | +23.2% |
| 75th | $48,990 | +30.8% |
| 90th | $56,570 | +51.1% |
| Mean | $46,320 | +23.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Connecticut
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgeport | $47,380 | 1,100 | |
| 2 | Hartford | $46,650 | 1,460 | |
| 3 | New Haven | $46,000 | 790 | |
| 4 | Norwich | $44,510 | 400 | |
| 5 | Waterbury | $44,110 | 440 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Connecticut run 3.6% above the national average, so the median of $46,120 buys what $44,517 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 18.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,120as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,517US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,120 a year, 23.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,380 to $56,570 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 4,500 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bridgeport, at $47,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Connecticut?
The median annual wage is $46,120, or $22.17 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 $37,450, so pay in Connecticut is 23.2% 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 Connecticut earns more than $56,570 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,380 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 $47,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 4,500 jobs in this occupation in Connecticut. 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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