Cooks, Restaurant salary in Connecticut
Cooks, Restaurant in Connecticut earn a median of $39,480 a year ($18.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,420 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $37,390. Connecticut ranks 13th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 8.7 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $42,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Connecticut
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,460 | $17.05 |
| 25th percentile | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Median | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| 75th percentile | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,420 | $23.76 |
| Average (mean) | $42,110 | $20.25 |
Half of cooks, restaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,290 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,645 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,518.46 |
| Weekly | $759.23 |
| Hourly | $18.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Connecticut
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $43,400 | 3,970 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $39,150 | 4,900 |
| New Haven, CT | $39,100 | 2,350 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $38,570 | 1,290 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $38,180 | 1,670 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
Related jobs in Connecticut
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,650 | $17.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,120 | $22.17 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Cooks, All Other | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,770 | $18.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $52,940 | $25.45 |
| Bartender | $38,780 | $18.64 |
| Dishwasher | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,540 | $16.61 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,210 | $16.45 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,310 | $30.92 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Connecticut
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Connecticut?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Connecticut is $39,480 a year, or $18.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Connecticut?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Connecticut earn at least $49,420 a year. The top 25% earn $45,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Connecticut?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,460 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $37,060 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Connecticut?
About 14,830 cooks, restaurant are employed in Connecticut, not counting the self-employed.