SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Hartford
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT · 4 metro areas compared
At $35,860, median pay for Food Preparation Workers in Hartford, CT tracks the national median of $35,320 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $35,860, median pay for Food Preparation Workers in Hartford, CT tracks the national median of $35,320 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $34,720 and $37,720. The lowest tenth earn under $34,010, while the highest tenth earn more than $45,810.
Employment stands at 3,750, or 6.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Bridgeport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $37,820. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 546th of 575 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,010 | −3.7% |
| 25th | $34,720 | −1.7% |
| Median (50th) | $35,860 | +1.5% |
| 75th | $37,720 | +6.8% |
| 90th | $45,810 | +29.7% |
| Mean | $38,120 | +7.9% |
Other metro areas in Connecticut
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgeport | $37,820 | 3,300 | |
| 2 | New Haven | $36,970 | 2,140 | |
| 3 | Waterbury | $36,580 | 1,430 | |
| 4 | Norwich | $36,200 | 960 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hartford run 3.6% above the national average, so the median of $35,860 buys what $34,614 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,860as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,614US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,860 a year, 1.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,010 to $45,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,750 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bridgeport, at $37,820.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Hartford, CT?
The median annual wage is $35,860, or $17.24 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 $35,320, so pay in Hartford, CT is 1.5% 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 Hartford, CT earns more than $45,810 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 $37,820 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,750 jobs in this occupation in Hartford, 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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