Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Hartford, CT

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT

Median annual salary $60,160 -1.4% vs national
Median hourly $28.92
10th percentile $40,210
90th percentile $104,250
Employed locally 1,100
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

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Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Hartford, CT
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,210
    25th
    $46,860
    50th (median)
    $60,160
    75th
    $78,180
    90th
    $104,250

    Hartford economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $92,823 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 65% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 35% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $74,000
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $64,200
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $63,010
    Connecticut $62,540
    New Haven, CT $62,440
    Waterbury-Shelton, CT $61,650

    Related occupations in Hartford, CT

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,700
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,430
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,790
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $49,320
    Food Preparation Workers $34,530
    Bartenders $34,070

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Hartford?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Hartford, CT is $28.92, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.86 or more per hour.

    Is Hartford above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Hartford, CT is 1.4% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Hartford?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $40,210 per year in Hartford, CT. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,860.