Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Hartford, CT
Cooks, Restaurant in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area earn a median $39,150 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,800 take-home, or $2,733 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Hartford, CT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,518
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,427
- Medicare (1.45%)$568
- Connecticut income tax$837
- Take-home pay$32,800
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Hartford, CT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,390 | $17.01 | $29,948 | $2,496 |
| 25th percentile | $37,060 | $17.82 | $31,215 | $2,601 |
| Median (50th) | $39,150 | $18.82 | $32,800 | $2,733 |
| 75th percentile | $45,460 | $21.86 | $37,586 | $3,132 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,900 | $23.51 | $40,196 | $3,350 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Connecticut resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,150 buys in Hartford, CT
Prices in Hartford, CT are 2.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.10× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $32,800 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,924 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Hartford, CT as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Hartford, CT ranks #48 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 48 | Hartford, CT | $39,150 | $32,800 | $31,924 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Connecticut
- Bridgeport, CT — $43,400
- New Haven, CT — $39,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Hartford, CT?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area is $39,150 a year, or about $18.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,060 and $45,460.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Hartford, CT?
On the median $39,150 salary, a single filer living in Connecticut takes home about $32,800 a year ($2,733 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $837 in Connecticut taxes in 2026.
Is Hartford, CT a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 2.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,924 would in a typical U.S. city. Hartford, CT ranks #48 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Hartford, CT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Hartford, CT is $1,477 a month ($1,865 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Hartford, CT
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,540
- Bartender — $37,290
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,200
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,860
- Dishwasher — $35,350
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,030