Food Preparation Worker Salary in Bridgeport, CT
Food Preparation Workers in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area earn a median $37,820 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,791 take-home, or $2,649 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Bridgeport, CT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,358
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,345
- Medicare (1.45%)$548
- Connecticut income tax$777
- Take-home pay$31,791
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Bridgeport, CT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,100 | $16.88 | $29,728 | $2,477 |
| 25th percentile | $36,650 | $17.62 | $30,904 | $2,575 |
| Median (50th) | $37,820 | $18.18 | $31,791 | $2,649 |
| 75th percentile | $42,700 | $20.53 | $35,493 | $2,958 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,040 | $23.10 | $39,543 | $3,295 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Connecticut resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,820 buys in Bridgeport, CT
Prices in Bridgeport, CT are 6.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.50× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $31,791 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,749 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bridgeport, CT has 1.4× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Bridgeport, CT ranks #30 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 30 | Bridgeport, CT | $37,820 | $31,791 | $29,749 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Connecticut
- Hartford, CT — $35,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Bridgeport, CT?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area is $37,820 a year, or about $18.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,650 and $42,700.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Bridgeport, CT?
On the median $37,820 salary, a single filer living in Connecticut takes home about $31,791 a year ($2,649 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $777 in Connecticut taxes in 2026.
Is Bridgeport, CT a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 6.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,749 would in a typical U.S. city. Bridgeport, CT ranks #30 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Bridgeport, CT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bridgeport, CT is $2,100 a month ($2,511 for two bedrooms) — 79% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bridgeport, CT
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $58,260
- Cooks, Restaurant — $43,400
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,820
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,550