Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area earn a median of $66,930 a year ($32.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 760 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,530 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 4% higher than the Connecticut statewide median of $64,310. There are 1.9 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $74,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,150 | $22.67 |
| 25th percentile | $55,590 | $26.73 |
| Median | $66,930 | $32.18 |
| 75th percentile | $84,780 | $40.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,530 | $49.77 |
| Average (mean) | $74,660 | $35.90 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,577.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,788.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,574.23 |
| Weekly | $1,287.12 |
| Hourly | $32.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $66,930 salary, see how much house you can afford in Connecticut at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | $66,700 | 460 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $62,820 | 1,110 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $62,220 | 330 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $59,080 | 270 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Connecticut statewide figures.
Related jobs in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $58,260 | $28.01 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,820 | $18.67 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,400 | $20.87 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,820 | $18.18 |
| Dishwasher | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Bartender | $45,150 | $21.71 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,300 | $16.97 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $35,270 | $16.96 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,450 | $17.53 |
| Cooks, All Other | $34,260 | $16.47 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area is $66,930 a year, or $32.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area earn at least $103,530 a year. The top 25% earn $84,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,150 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $55,590 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT?
About 760 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area, not counting the self-employed.