Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Waterbury, CT

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Waterbury-Shelton, CT

Median annual salary $36,960 +0.4% vs national
Median hourly $17.77
10th percentile $32,640
90th percentile $47,550
Employed locally 1,090
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Waterbury, CT stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Cooks, Restaurant
in
Waterbury, CT
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,640
    25th
    $35,470
    50th (median)
    $36,960
    75th
    $43,520
    90th
    $47,550

    Waterbury economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,365 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 43% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 57% below the area median household income

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Waterbury, CT is $17.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.22 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Waterbury, CT is 0.4% 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 Waterbury?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $32,640 per year in Waterbury, CT. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,470.