Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Hartford
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,400 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Hartford earn between $49,750 and $75,710.
- $44K10th
- $50K25th
- $63KMedian
- $76K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,620 | $5,552 | $32.03 |
| Median | $62,820 | $5,235 | $30.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,750 | $4,146 | $23.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,710 | $6,309 | $36.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Hartford vs. Connecticut and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Hartford earn 4% less than the Connecticut average ($69,680) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | $66,620 | $62,820 | $43,710 | $95,400 | 1,110 |
| Connecticut | $69,680 | $64,310 | $44,530 | $99,870 | 3,080 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Hartford
On the average salary of $66,620, a single filer in Hartford takes home about $52,708 a year, or $4,392 a month and $2,027 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Connecticut tax is computed with the Department of Revenue Services' 2026 withholding rules (exemption, credit and recapture tables).
Is Hartford a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hartford area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.7), so the average $66,620 buys what about $64,840 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Hartford ($59,940). A typical home costs $400,167, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Connecticut cities
Hartford ranks 4th of 5 Connecticut metro areas for this job; Bridgeport pays the most ($74,660).
- Bridgeport$74,660
- New Haven$72,770
- Norwich$68,170
- Hartford$66,620
- Waterbury$65,270
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Hartford: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Hartford?
$32.03 an hour on average, and $30.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Hartford?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Hartford?
About $52,708 a year ($4,392 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,620. Connecticut tax is computed with the Department of Revenue Services' 2026 withholding rules (exemption, credit and recapture tables).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Hartford than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT (25540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Connecticut tax is computed with the Department of Revenue Services' 2026 withholding rules (exemption, credit and recapture tables).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.44, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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