Can A Chef Afford Rent in Webster, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.3% of gross income.

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

Webster median rent
$1,878/mo
Chef salary (Massachusetts)
$74,414/yr
Rent as % of income
30.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,201, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,860/mo in rent. Webster's median rent of $1,878 exceeds that threshold by $18/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 52.5 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 Webster, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Westfield, MA
$1,876/mo (30.3% of income)
Westfield, MA
$1,873/mo (30.2% of income)
New Bedford, MA
$1,869/mo (30.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Webster

View full rent data for Webster, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Webster, MA?

Median rent in Webster is $1,878 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 30.3% 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 Webster?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Webster's current median rent is $1,878/mo, which is $18/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 52.5 hours a month to cover Webster's median rent of $1,878.

Where is rent cheaper than Webster for a chef?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Westfield ($1,876/mo), Westfield ($1,873/mo), New Bedford ($1,869/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 Webster, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.