Can A Chef Afford Rent in Springfield, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45% of gross income.

Springfield rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Springfield median rent
$2,694/mo
Chef salary (New Jersey)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
45%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Springfield's median rent of $2,694 exceeds that threshold by $898/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 78 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Springfield, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

South Amboy, NJ
$2,693/mo (45% of income)
Freehold, NJ
$2,693/mo (45% of income)
West Orange, NJ
$2,693/mo (45% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Springfield

View full rent data for Springfield, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Springfield, NJ?

Median rent in Springfield is $2,694 a month. A typical chef in New Jersey earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 45% 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 Springfield?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New Jersey (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Springfield's current median rent is $2,694/mo, which is $898/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in New Jersey works roughly 78 hours a month to cover Springfield's median rent of $2,694.

Where is rent cheaper than Springfield for a chef?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include South Amboy ($2,693/mo), Freehold ($2,693/mo), West Orange ($2,693/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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