Can A Chef Afford Rent in Pittsfield, MA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.7% of gross income.
Pittsfield rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).
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 Pittsfield, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Pittsfield
View full rent data for Pittsfield, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Pittsfield, MA?
Median rent in Pittsfield is $1,592 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 25.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Pittsfield?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Pittsfield's current median rent is $1,592/mo, which leaves a $268/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Pittsfield?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 44.5 hours a month to cover Pittsfield's median rent of $1,592.
Where is rent cheaper than Pittsfield for a chef?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Gardner ($1,590/mo), Holyoke ($1,583/mo), Springfield ($1,574/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.