Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Hartford, CT

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

Median annual salary $37,790 +2.6% vs national
Median hourly $18.17
10th percentile $32,640
90th percentile $46,540
Employed locally 4,630
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Hartford, CT
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,640
    25th
    $35,910
    50th (median)
    $37,790
    75th
    $44,070
    90th
    $46,540

    Hartford economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $92,823 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 41% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 59% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $45,230
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $39,420
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $38,290
    Connecticut $38,020
    New Haven, CT $37,640
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $37,330

    Related occupations in Hartford, CT

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,700
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,430
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $49,320
    Food Preparation Workers $34,530
    Bartenders $34,070
    Dishwashers $34,620

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Hartford?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Hartford, CT is $18.17, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.51 or more per hour.

    Is Hartford above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Hartford, CT is 2.6% above the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Hartford?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $32,640 per year in Hartford, CT. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,910.