Can A Chef Afford Rent in Pendleton, OR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.5% of gross income.

Pendleton rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Pendleton median rent
$1,362/mo
Chef salary (Oregon)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
24.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Pendleton's median rent of $1,362 leaves roughly $306/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 42.5 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Pendleton, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Medford, OR
$1,359/mo (24.4% of income)
La Grande, OR
$1,359/mo (24.4% of income)
Tualatin, OR
$1,356/mo (24.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pendleton

View full rent data for Pendleton, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Pendleton, OR?

Median rent in Pendleton is $1,362 a month. A typical chef in Oregon earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 24.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Pendleton?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Oregon (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Pendleton's current median rent is $1,362/mo, which leaves a $306/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Oregon works roughly 42.5 hours a month to cover Pendleton's median rent of $1,362.

Where is rent cheaper than Pendleton for a chef?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Medford ($1,359/mo), La Grande ($1,359/mo), Tualatin ($1,356/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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