Can A Chef Afford Rent in Worcester, MA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.9% of gross income.
Worcester rent: June 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 Worcester, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Worcester
View full rent data for Worcester, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Worcester, MA?
Median rent in Worcester is $2,164 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 34.9% 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 Worcester?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Worcester's current median rent is $2,164/mo, which is $304/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Worcester?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 60.5 hours a month to cover Worcester's median rent of $2,164.
Where is rent cheaper than Worcester for a chef?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Brockton ($2,163/mo), Attleboro ($2,152/mo), Taunton ($2,151/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.