Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Connecticut

Each occupation's median wage in Connecticut compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Connecticut pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Opticians, Dispensing$75,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,700 – $85,070+59.3%
2Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$100,810
Bachelor's degree
$77,410 – $115,980+52.1%
3Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$156,240
Master's degree
$86,840 – $194,310+47.6%
4Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$97,350
Bachelor's degree
$68,330 – $126,680+46.9%
5Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$93,610
Bachelor's degree
$60,070 – $110,120+45.4%
6Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$90,030
Bachelor's degree
$61,730 – $111,450+43.6%
7Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$89,140
Bachelor's degree
$64,080 – $127,410+42.9%
8Special Education Teachers, Middle School$92,900
Bachelor's degree
$61,370 – $107,660+39.1%
9Chief Executives$295,120
Bachelor's degree
$156,680 – $680,080+37.9%
10Computer Programmers$133,820
Bachelor's degree
$82,110 – $141,920+33.3%
11Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$126,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,960 – $135,730+33.1%
12Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$71,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,760 – $82,080+32.7%
13Child, Family, and School Social Workers$78,970
Bachelor's degree
$48,660 – $109,980+32.6%
14Construction and Building Inspectors$98,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,140 – $129,830+32.1%
15Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$78,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,000 – $106,920+31.6%
16Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$78,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,900 – $98,850+31.3%
17Firefighters$77,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,320 – $85,500+31.0%
18Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$61,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,010 – $103,590+30.6%
19Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$78,640
Master's degree
$49,260 – $108,530+30.5%
20General and Operations Managers$137,220
Bachelor's degree
$68,010 – $312,890+29.7%
21Highway Maintenance Workers$64,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,710 – $79,490+29.1%
22Bus Drivers, School$61,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,830 – $65,090+28.4%
23Actuaries$166,800
Bachelor's degree
$99,430 – $228,810+28.3%
24Library Technicians$57,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,010 – $80,180+28.0%
25Paramedics$77,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,370 – $90,060+27.9%
26Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$94,940
Associate's degree
$43,880 – $129,020+27.8%
27Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$82,950
Bachelor's degree
$58,560 – $107,040+27.4%
28Sheet Metal Workers$78,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,780 – $93,940+27.4%
29Property Appraisers and Assessors$86,050
Bachelor's degree
$56,490 – $135,240+26.6%
30Natural Sciences Managers$210,670
Bachelor's degree
$136,750 – $315,560+26.0%
31Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$80,600
Bachelor's degree
$58,870 – $105,890+26.0%
32Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$76,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,280 – $100,160+25.6%
33Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$75,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,940 – $90,390+25.5%
34Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$98,560
Bachelor's degree
$51,310 – $283,730+25.3%
35Loan Officers$95,730
Bachelor's degree
$50,300 – $171,280+24.8%
36Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$44,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,010 – $72,620+24.7%
37Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$58,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,310 – $76,690+24.5%
38Instructional Coordinators$96,170
Master's degree
$58,820 – $129,910+24.2%
39Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$60,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,670 – $78,120+24.2%
40Insurance Underwriters$100,690
Bachelor's degree
$66,450 – $158,890+23.7%
41Construction Laborers$58,290
No formal educational credential
$42,580 – $76,520+23.7%
42English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$97,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,240 – $131,520+23.6%
43Surgical Technologists$79,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,980 – $104,920+23.6%
44Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$46,120
No formal educational credential
$38,380 – $56,570+23.2%
45Bill and Account Collectors$57,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,540 – $77,180+23.2%
46Psychiatric Technicians$55,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,250 – $77,540+23.0%
47Electricians$77,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,680 – $104,280+22.7%
48Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$59,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,450 – $79,670+21.4%
49Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$96,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,390 – $127,050+21.2%
50Tool and Die Makers$77,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,770 – $100,200+21.1%

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	vs. national
1	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,300	$48,700 – $85,070	+59.3%
2	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$100,810	$77,410 – $115,980	+52.1%
3	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$156,240	$86,840 – $194,310	+47.6%
4	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$97,350	$68,330 – $126,680	+46.9%
5	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$93,610	$60,070 – $110,120	+45.4%
6	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$90,030	$61,730 – $111,450	+43.6%
7	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$89,140	$64,080 – $127,410	+42.9%
8	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$92,900	$61,370 – $107,660	+39.1%
9	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$295,120	$156,680 – $680,080	+37.9%
10	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$133,820	$82,110 – $141,920	+33.3%
11	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$126,850	$46,960 – $135,730	+33.1%
12	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,940	$49,760 – $82,080	+32.7%
13	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$78,970	$48,660 – $109,980	+32.6%
14	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,670	$65,140 – $129,830	+32.1%
15	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,750	$60,000 – $106,920	+31.6%
16	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,820	$60,900 – $98,850	+31.3%
17	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,630	$51,320 – $85,500	+31.0%
18	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,580	$34,010 – $103,590	+30.6%
19	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$78,640	$49,260 – $108,530	+30.5%
20	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$137,220	$68,010 – $312,890	+29.7%
21	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,870	$57,710 – $79,490	+29.1%
22	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,520	$45,830 – $65,090	+28.4%
23	ActuariesBachelor's degree	$166,800	$99,430 – $228,810	+28.3%
24	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,060	$34,010 – $80,180	+28.0%
25	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,480	$60,370 – $90,060	+27.9%
26	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$94,940	$43,880 – $129,020	+27.8%
27	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$82,950	$58,560 – $107,040	+27.4%
28	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,750	$49,780 – $93,940	+27.4%
29	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$86,050	$56,490 – $135,240	+26.6%
30	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$210,670	$136,750 – $315,560	+26.0%
31	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$80,600	$58,870 – $105,890	+26.0%
32	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,610	$45,280 – $100,160	+25.6%
33	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,410	$43,940 – $90,390	+25.5%
34	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$98,560	$51,310 – $283,730	+25.3%
35	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$95,730	$50,300 – $171,280	+24.8%
36	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,620	$34,010 – $72,620	+24.7%
37	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,100	$41,310 – $76,690	+24.5%
38	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$96,170	$58,820 – $129,910	+24.2%
39	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,480	$43,670 – $78,120	+24.2%
40	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$100,690	$66,450 – $158,890	+23.7%
41	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$58,290	$42,580 – $76,520	+23.7%
42	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$97,310	$60,240 – $131,520	+23.6%
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,890	$45,980 – $104,920	+23.6%
44	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$46,120	$38,380 – $56,570	+23.2%
45	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,930	$40,540 – $77,180	+23.2%
46	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,500	$41,250 – $77,540	+23.0%
47	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,540	$47,680 – $104,280	+22.7%
48	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,760	$47,450 – $79,670	+21.4%
49	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$96,830	$60,390 – $127,050	+21.2%
50	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,540	$47,770 – $100,200	+21.1%

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 pay the biggest premium in Connecticut

More for Connecticut

Metro areas in Connecticut

By field in Connecticut

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state