Food Preparation Workers pay range in Waterbury
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,510 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Waterbury earn between $35,750 and $37,510.
- $34K10th
- $36K25th
- $37KMedian
- $38K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,900 | $3,158 | $18.22 |
| Median | $36,580 | $3,048 | $17.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,750 | $2,979 | $17.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,510 | $3,126 | $18.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Waterbury vs. Connecticut and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Waterbury earn 4% less than the Connecticut average ($39,290) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury | $37,900 | $36,580 | $34,010 | $42,510 | 1,430 |
| Connecticut | $39,290 | $36,650 | $34,010 | $47,790 | 12,250 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Waterbury
On the average salary of $37,900, a single filer in Waterbury takes home about $31,606 a year, or $2,634 a month and $1,216 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Connecticut tax is computed with the Department of Revenue Services' 2026 withholding rules (exemption, credit and recapture tables).
Is Waterbury a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waterbury area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 99.8), so the average $37,900 buys what about $37,984 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Waterbury ($51,440). A typical home costs $290,800, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Connecticut cities
Waterbury ranks 5th of 5 Connecticut metro areas for this job; New Haven pays the most ($41,690).
- New Haven$41,690
- Bridgeport$40,110
- Norwich$38,560
- Hartford$38,120
- Waterbury$37,900
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Waterbury: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Waterbury?
$18.22 an hour on average, and $17.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Waterbury?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Waterbury?
About $31,606 a year ($2,634 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,900. Connecticut tax is computed with the Department of Revenue Services' 2026 withholding rules (exemption, credit and recapture tables).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Waterbury than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Waterbury-Shelton, CT (47930). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Connecticut tax is computed with the Department of Revenue Services' 2026 withholding rules (exemption, credit and recapture tables).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.55, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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