Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT metro area earn a median of $62,220 a year ($29.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,170 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 3% lower than the Connecticut statewide median of $64,310. There are 2.6 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $68,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,470 | $20.90 |
| 25th percentile | $48,860 | $23.49 |
| Median | $62,220 | $29.91 |
| 75th percentile | $77,090 | $37.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,170 | $47.20 |
| Average (mean) | $68,170 | $32.77 |
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 | $5,185 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,592.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,393.08 |
| Weekly | $1,196.54 |
| Hourly | $29.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,220 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $66,930 | 760 |
| New Haven, CT | $66,700 | 460 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $62,820 | 1,110 |
| 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 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $51,600 | $24.81 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,880 | $18.21 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Bartender | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Dishwasher | $34,820 | $16.74 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,010 | $16.35 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,510 | $21.40 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,970 | $19.22 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,290 | $17.93 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, 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 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT metro area is $62,220 a year, or $29.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT metro area earn at least $98,170 a year. The top 25% earn $77,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,470 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $48,860 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT?
About 330 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT metro area, not counting the self-employed.