Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Connecticut

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

Cost of living: prices in Connecticut run 3.6% above the national average (2024), so a Connecticut salary is worth about 0.97× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Connecticut.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Connecticut

OccupationMedian, Connecticut · Real change since 2019

1Art Directors$71,900
Bachelor's degree
$69,990 – $161,580-38.2%-22.2% nominal
2Tax Preparers$41,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,740 – $81,750-37.2%-20.9% nominal
3Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$38,220
No formal educational credential
$34,980 – $62,330-36.5%-20.1% nominal
4Dentists, General$160,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$89,430 – $362,870-32.5%-15.1% nominal
5Family Medicine Physicians$163,930
Doctoral or professional degree
$86,600 – $325,460-31.9%-14.2% nominal
6Advertising Sales Agents$61,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,010 – $140,180-29.9%-11.7% nominal
7Special Education Teachers, All Other$61,480
Bachelor's degree
$40,730 – $102,050-28.4%-9.8% nominal
8Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$78,600
Master's degree
$49,420 – $165,200-27.2%-8.4% nominal
9Biological Technicians$62,360
Bachelor's degree
$39,520 – $92,180-26.6%-7.6% nominal
10Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$84,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,620 – $137,140-24.7%-5.2% nominal
11Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$65,310
Bachelor's degree
$43,320 – $111,940-24.0%-4.3% nominal
12Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$96,470
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,330 – $200,720-23.7%-3.9% nominal
13Information and Record Clerks, All Other$46,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,010 – $65,920-23.5%-3.7% nominal
14Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,280-22.8%-2.8% nominal
15Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$106,040
Bachelor's degree
$87,940 – $174,640-22.3%-2.2% nominal
16Psychiatric Technicians$55,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,250 – $77,540-20.9%-0.3% nominal
17Data Entry Keyers$38,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,010 – $58,190-20.8%-0.2% nominal
18Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$37,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,850 – $58,590-20.6%0.0% nominal
19Couriers and Messengers$39,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,300 – $54,980-19.8%+1.0% nominal
20Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$116,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$68,160 – $187,310-18.9%+2.1% nominal
21First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$57,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,880 – $85,420-18.8%+2.2% nominal
22Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$59,760
Bachelor's degree
$40,290 – $102,810-18.7%+2.3% nominal
23General and Operations Managers$137,220
Bachelor's degree
$68,010 – $312,890-18.7%+2.4% nominal
24Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$89,140
Bachelor's degree
$64,080 – $127,410-18.6%+2.6% nominal
25Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$80,970
Bachelor's degree
$51,710 – $113,610-18.5%+2.6% nominal
26Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$80,600
Bachelor's degree
$58,870 – $105,890-18.5%+2.6% nominal
27General Internal Medicine Physicians$208,000
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,740 – $413,750-18.3%+2.9% nominal
28Butchers and Meat Cutters$44,570
No formal educational credential
$36,090 – $60,830-18.3%+2.9% nominal
29Driver/Sales Workers$36,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,010 – $60,600-17.9%+3.4% nominal
30Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$98,000
Bachelor's degree
$60,080 – $205,130-17.8%+3.5% nominal
31First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,710 – $160,480-17.7%+3.6% nominal
32Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$95,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,790 – $130,380-17.3%+4.1% nominal
33Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,470 – $63,510-16.8%+4.7% nominal
34Roofers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$47,730 – $96,070-16.5%+5.1% nominal
35Physician Assistants$139,860
Master's degree
$106,380 – $180,900-16.4%+5.2% nominal
36Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$53,840
Bachelor's degree
$42,540 – $84,860-16.2%+5.6% nominal
37Operations Research Analysts$96,700
Bachelor's degree
$61,300 – $131,030-16.1%+5.6% nominal
38Speech-Language Pathologists$100,110
Master's degree
$65,400 – $130,290-15.8%+6.0% nominal
39Electrical Engineers$104,160
Bachelor's degree
$82,300 – $162,290-15.8%+6.0% nominal
40Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$82,950
Bachelor's degree
$58,560 – $107,040-15.5%+6.4% nominal
41First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$98,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$83,030 – $125,120-15.3%+6.7% nominal
42Instructional Coordinators$96,170
Master's degree
$58,820 – $129,910-14.9%+7.2% nominal
43Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$81,710
Bachelor's degree
$60,150 – $111,880-14.8%+7.3% nominal
44Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$47,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $80,370-14.8%+7.3% nominal
45Orderlies$37,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,890 – $46,710-14.6%+7.6% nominal
46Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$44,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,080 – $66,110-14.4%+7.8% nominal
47First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$62,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,550 – $101,120-14.0%+8.3% nominal
48Industrial Production Managers$134,780
Bachelor's degree
$91,360 – $202,560-14.0%+8.3% nominal
49Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,860 – $61,270-13.9%+8.4% nominal
50Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,820
Associate's degree
$46,440 – $100,040-13.6%+8.8% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianConnecticut	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Art DirectorsBachelor's degree	$71,900	$69,990 – $161,580	-38.2%-22.2% nominal
2	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,130	$35,740 – $81,750	-37.2%-20.9% nominal
3	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$38,220	$34,980 – $62,330	-36.5%-20.1% nominal
4	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$160,440	$89,430 – $362,870	-32.5%-15.1% nominal
5	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$163,930	$86,600 – $325,460	-31.9%-14.2% nominal
6	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,820	$34,010 – $140,180	-29.9%-11.7% nominal
7	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$61,480	$40,730 – $102,050	-28.4%-9.8% nominal
8	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$78,600	$49,420 – $165,200	-27.2%-8.4% nominal
9	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$62,360	$39,520 – $92,180	-26.6%-7.6% nominal
10	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$84,500	$60,620 – $137,140	-24.7%-5.2% nominal
11	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$65,310	$43,320 – $111,940	-24.0%-4.3% nominal
12	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$96,470	$61,330 – $200,720	-23.7%-3.9% nominal
13	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,680	$34,010 – $65,920	-23.5%-3.7% nominal
14	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$47,440 – $75,280	-22.8%-2.8% nominal
15	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$106,040	$87,940 – $174,640	-22.3%-2.2% nominal
16	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,500	$41,250 – $77,540	-20.9%-0.3% nominal
17	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,560	$34,010 – $58,190	-20.8%-0.2% nominal
18	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,220	$34,850 – $58,590	-20.6%0.0% nominal
19	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,480	$35,300 – $54,980	-19.8%+1.0% nominal
20	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$116,990	$68,160 – $187,310	-18.9%+2.1% nominal
21	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,200	$38,880 – $85,420	-18.8%+2.2% nominal
22	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$59,760	$40,290 – $102,810	-18.7%+2.3% nominal
23	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$137,220	$68,010 – $312,890	-18.7%+2.4% nominal
24	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$89,140	$64,080 – $127,410	-18.6%+2.6% nominal
25	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$80,970	$51,710 – $113,610	-18.5%+2.6% nominal
26	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$80,600	$58,870 – $105,890	-18.5%+2.6% nominal
27	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$208,000	$66,740 – $413,750	-18.3%+2.9% nominal
28	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$44,570	$36,090 – $60,830	-18.3%+2.9% nominal
29	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,730	$34,010 – $60,600	-17.9%+3.4% nominal
30	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$98,000	$60,080 – $205,130	-17.8%+3.5% nominal
31	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$50,710 – $160,480	-17.7%+3.6% nominal
32	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$95,500	$60,790 – $130,380	-17.3%+4.1% nominal
33	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,590	$36,470 – $63,510	-16.8%+4.7% nominal
34	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$47,730 – $96,070	-16.5%+5.1% nominal
35	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$139,860	$106,380 – $180,900	-16.4%+5.2% nominal
36	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$53,840	$42,540 – $84,860	-16.2%+5.6% nominal
37	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$96,700	$61,300 – $131,030	-16.1%+5.6% nominal
38	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$100,110	$65,400 – $130,290	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
39	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,160	$82,300 – $162,290	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
40	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$82,950	$58,560 – $107,040	-15.5%+6.4% nominal
41	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$98,500	$83,030 – $125,120	-15.3%+6.7% nominal
42	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$96,170	$58,820 – $129,910	-14.9%+7.2% nominal
43	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$81,710	$60,150 – $111,880	-14.8%+7.3% nominal
44	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,960	$41,600 – $80,370	-14.8%+7.3% nominal
45	OrderliesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,550	$34,890 – $46,710	-14.6%+7.6% nominal
46	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,550	$37,080 – $66,110	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
47	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,740	$49,550 – $101,120	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
48	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$134,780	$91,360 – $202,560	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
49	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,580	$35,860 – $61,270	-13.9%+8.4% nominal
50	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,820	$46,440 – $100,040	-13.6%+8.8% nominal

More for Connecticut

Metro areas in Connecticut

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Connecticut

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Connecticut to rank honestly.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Connecticut

More for Connecticut

Metro areas in Connecticut

By field in Connecticut

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state