Cooks, Short Order Salary in Waterbury, CT

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

Median annual salary $36,220 +1.7% vs national
Median hourly $17.42
10th percentile $32,670
90th percentile $43,170
National median $35,620

Compare Cooks, Short Order salary & buying power

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Cooks, Short Order
in
Waterbury, CT
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,670
    25th
    $32,670
    50th (median)
    $36,220
    75th
    $38,030
    90th
    $43,170

    Waterbury economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,365 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 58% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $39,510
    District of Columbia $38,340
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $37,170
    Connecticut $36,970
    Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $36,740
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $33,760

    Related occupations in Waterbury, CT

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,300
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,360
    Food Preparation Workers $35,490
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,960
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $48,400
    Dishwashers $34,060

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Short Order make per hour in Waterbury?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Waterbury, CT is $17.42, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.53 or more per hour.

    Is Waterbury above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Waterbury, CT is 1.7% above the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in Waterbury?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $32,670 per year in Waterbury, CT. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $32,670.