Average Salaries in Connecticut
Explore salaries across 691 occupations in Connecticut. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $72.7K, +18.2% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates. Coverage: 691 occupations and 1,658,110 total jobs in Connecticut.
How the state compares
Connecticut is one of the higher-paying states in the country. Average wages here run meaningfully above the national level, though local cost of living often offsets some of that premium.
Connecticut has a mid-sized labor market, with strong representation in some occupations but thinner coverage in niche roles.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Nurse Anesthetists. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Connecticut
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Top wages
Highest-paid occupations in Connecticut
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Anesthetists | $227.9K | 570 |
| Physicians, All Other | $227.7K | 4,740 |
| Commercial Pilots | $227.1K | 360 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $223.6K | 40 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $218.8K | N/A |
| Pediatricians, General | $215.7K | 1,300 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $214.2K | 620 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, And Magistrates | $211.4K | 200 |
| Podiatrists | $208.3K | 130 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $198.2K | 900 |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in Connecticut
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| General And Operations Managers | 46,780 | $130.2K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 41,890 | $38.2K |
| Retail Salespersons | 41,890 | $35.4K |
| Registered Nurses | 39,020 | $101.6K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 36,140 | $40.0K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 32,180 | $34.0K |
| Cashiers | 32,110 | $34.0K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 29,660 | $36.8K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 28,140 | $47.3K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 26,840 | $40.2K |
What Connecticut specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Connecticut than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in Connecticut
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Divers | 4.25 | $58.2K |
| Craft Artists | 4.14 | $32.6K |
| Gambling Service Workers, All Other | 4.04 | $36.8K |
| Actuaries | 3.86 | $148.2K |
| Lathe And Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, And Tenders, Metal And Plastic | 3.85 | $47.9K |
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | 3.80 | $57.1K |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, And Related Materials | 3.71 | $36.6K |
| Tool And Die Makers | 2.99 | $76.3K |
| Fire Inspectors And Investigators | 2.81 | $76.6K |
| Pediatricians, General | 2.77 | $215.7K |
Peer markets
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $86.2K | Obstetricians And Gynecologists |
| California | $77.6K | Chief Executives |
| Washington | $77.0K | Podiatrists |
| New York | $76.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Massachusetts | $75.6K | Dentists, All Other Specialists |
| New Jersey | $73.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Alaska | $73.0K | Dentists, General |
| Maryland | $72.0K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
Metros inside Connecticut
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Inside this state
Major metros in Connecticut
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $73.2K | 584,420 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $75.8K | 393,830 |
| New Haven, CT | $72.9K | 267,270 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $67.6K | 153,730 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $70.9K | 108,600 |
Common salary questions for Connecticut
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.