Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Connecticut
The median for waiters and waitresses in Connecticut is $37,770 a year, somewhat above the national $35,230 (+7%); the state ranks 14th of 51 states by median. That is 37% less than the median across all occupations in Connecticut ($59,690). Among neighbouring states, New York and Massachusetts pay more (up to $47,020 in New York) and Rhode Island pays less (down to $35,420 in Rhode Island). Connecticut employs 22,370 waiters and waitresses, 13.2 per 1,000 jobs, the 31st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.90 is close to the national share.
Connecticut vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $16.35 | $16.94 | $18.16 | $23.20 | $34.64 | $22.22 | 22,370 | 13.19 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $34,010 | $35,230 | $37,770 | $48,250 | $72,060 | $46,220 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $8.70 | $13.34 | $16.94 | $22.65 | $31.12 | $19.26 | 2,270,910 | – | – |
| Annual | $18,100 | $27,750 | $35,230 | $47,110 | $64,720 | $40,060 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 14th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 31st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.90
- Jobs per 1,000
- 13.19
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Connecticut's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Connecticut
5 metropolitan areas and 1 nonmetropolitan area touching Connecticut publish a row for waiters and waitresses, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $18.67 | $38,820 | $34,360 | $64,370 | 6,270 | 15.52 | 1.06 |
| New Haven, CT | $18.22 | $37,900 | $34,010 | $63,420 | 3,290 | 11.68 | 0.80 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $18.21 | $37,880 | $34,010 | $83,070 | 2,620 | 20.74 | 1.42 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $17.88 | $37,200 | $34,010 | $73,390 | 7,200 | 12.00 | 0.82 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $17.74 | $36,890 | $34,010 | $60,510 | 1,940 | 12.08 | 0.83 |
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $17.56 | $36,530 | $34,010 | $60,830 | 1,020 | 15.31 | 1.05 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $18.16 | $37,770 | 22,370 | 0.90 |
| Massachusetts | $18.49 | $38,460 | 54,670 | 1.03 |
| New York | $22.61 | $47,020 | 142,940 | 1.01 |
| Rhode Island | $17.03 | $35,420 | 10,160 | 1.39 |
See the national page for Waiters and Waitresses (every state ranked) and the Connecticut wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Connecticut estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.