Can A Chef Afford Rent in Fitchburg, MA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29% of gross income.

Fitchburg rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Fitchburg median rent
$1,799/mo
Chef salary (Massachusetts)
$74,414/yr
Rent as % of income
29%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,201, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,860/mo in rent. Fitchburg's median rent of $1,799 leaves roughly $61/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Fitchburg, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Leominster, MA
$1,798/mo (29% of income)
Rockport, MA
$1,795/mo (28.9% of income)
Chicopee, MA
$1,793/mo (28.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fitchburg

View full rent data for Fitchburg, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Fitchburg, MA?

Median rent in Fitchburg is $1,799 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 29% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Fitchburg?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Fitchburg's current median rent is $1,799/mo, which leaves a $61/mo buffer.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Fitchburg?

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 50.3 hours a month to cover Fitchburg's median rent of $1,799.

Where is rent cheaper than Fitchburg for a chef?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Leominster ($1,798/mo), Rockport ($1,795/mo), Chicopee ($1,793/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Massachusetts state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Fitchburg, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.