Can A Chef Afford Rent in Pawtucket, RI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.6% of gross income.

Pawtucket rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Pawtucket median rent
$1,866/mo
Chef salary (Rhode Island)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
33.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Pawtucket's median rent of $1,866 exceeds that threshold by $198/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 58.2 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Pawtucket, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

West Warwick, RI
$1,861/mo (33.5% of income)
Westerly, RI
$1,849/mo (33.3% of income)
Lincoln, RI
$1,847/mo (33.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pawtucket

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Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Pawtucket, RI?

Median rent in Pawtucket is $1,866 a month. A typical chef in Rhode Island earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 33.6% 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 Pawtucket?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Rhode Island (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Pawtucket's current median rent is $1,866/mo, which is $198/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Rhode Island works roughly 58.2 hours a month to cover Pawtucket's median rent of $1,866.

Where is rent cheaper than Pawtucket for a chef?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include West Warwick ($1,861/mo), Westerly ($1,849/mo), Lincoln ($1,847/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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