Can A Chef Afford Rent in Mason, OH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.4% of gross income.

Mason rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Mason median rent
$2,130/mo
Chef salary (Ohio)
$60,301/yr
Rent as % of income
42.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,025, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Mason's median rent of $2,130 exceeds that threshold by $622/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 73.5 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Mason, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Canal Winchester, OH
$2,128/mo (42.3% of income)
Pickerington, OH
$2,127/mo (42.3% of income)
Pataskala, OH
$2,126/mo (42.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Mason

View full rent data for Mason, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Mason, OH?

Median rent in Mason is $2,130 a month. A typical chef in Ohio earns about $60,301 a year, which makes that rent 42.4% 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 Mason?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Ohio (~$60,301/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Mason's current median rent is $2,130/mo, which is $622/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Ohio works roughly 73.5 hours a month to cover Mason's median rent of $2,130.

Where is rent cheaper than Mason for a chef?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Canal Winchester ($2,128/mo), Pickerington ($2,127/mo), Pataskala ($2,126/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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