Can A Chef Afford Rent in Lynn, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.1% of gross income.

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

Lynn median rent
$2,300/mo
Chef salary (Massachusetts)
$74,414/yr
Rent as % of income
37.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,201, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,860/mo in rent. Lynn's median rent of $2,300 exceeds that threshold by $440/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 64.3 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 Lynn, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Haverhill, MA
$2,298/mo (37.1% of income)
Haverhill, MA
$2,288/mo (36.9% of income)
Clinton, MA
$2,286/mo (36.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lynn

View full rent data for Lynn, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Lynn, MA?

Median rent in Lynn is $2,300 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 37.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Lynn?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Lynn's current median rent is $2,300/mo, which is $440/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 64.3 hours a month to cover Lynn's median rent of $2,300.

Where is rent cheaper than Lynn for a chef?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Haverhill ($2,298/mo), Haverhill ($2,288/mo), Clinton ($2,286/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 Lynn, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.