Waiter and Waitress Salary in Bridgeport, CT
Waiters and Waitresses in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area earn a median $38,820 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,550 take-home, or $2,712 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Bridgeport, CT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,478
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,407
- Medicare (1.45%)$563
- Connecticut income tax$822
- Take-home pay$32,550
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Bridgeport, CT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,360 | $16.52 | $29,167 | $2,431 |
| 25th percentile | $35,680 | $17.15 | $30,168 | $2,514 |
| Median (50th) | $38,820 | $18.66 | $32,550 | $2,712 |
| 75th percentile | $47,820 | $22.99 | $39,376 | $3,281 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,370 | $30.95 | $51,930 | $4,327 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Connecticut resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,820 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 waiter and waitress's $32,550 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,459 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Bridgeport, CT as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Bridgeport, CT ranks #65 of 148 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 65 | Bridgeport, CT | $38,820 | $32,550 | $30,459 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Connecticut
- Norwich, CT — $37,880
- Hartford, CT — $37,200
- New Haven, CT — $37,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Bridgeport, CT?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area is $38,820 a year, or about $18.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,680 and $47,820.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Bridgeport, CT?
On the median $38,820 salary, a single filer living in Connecticut takes home about $32,550 a year ($2,712 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $822 in Connecticut taxes in 2026.
Is Bridgeport, CT a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 6.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,459 would in a typical U.S. city. Bridgeport, CT ranks #65 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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) — 77% of a median waiter and waitress’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
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,820
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,550