Waiter and Waitress Salary in Hartford, CT
Waiters and Waitresses in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area earn a median $37,200 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,321 take-home, or $2,610 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Hartford, CT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,284
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,306
- Medicare (1.45%)$539
- Connecticut income tax$749
- Take-home pay$31,321
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 Hartford, CT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,010 | $16.35 | $28,902 | $2,408 |
| 25th percentile | $35,270 | $16.96 | $29,857 | $2,488 |
| Median (50th) | $37,200 | $17.88 | $31,321 | $2,610 |
| 75th percentile | $53,730 | $25.83 | $43,859 | $3,655 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,390 | $35.28 | $57,998 | $4,833 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Connecticut resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,200 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 waiter and waitress's $31,321 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,484 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 Hartford, CT as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Hartford, CT ranks #63 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 |
| 63 | Hartford, CT | $37,200 | $31,321 | $30,484 |
*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
- New Haven, CT — $37,900
- Bridgeport, CT — $38,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Hartford, CT?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area is $37,200 a year, or about $17.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,270 and $53,730.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Hartford, CT?
On the median $37,200 salary, a single filer living in Connecticut takes home about $31,321 a year ($2,610 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $749 in Connecticut taxes in 2026.
Is Hartford, CT a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 2.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,484 would in a typical U.S. city. Hartford, CT ranks #63 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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) — 57% of a median waiter and waitress’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
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,150
- Bartender — $37,290
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,860
- Dishwasher — $35,350
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,030