Can A Chef Afford Rent in Franklin, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.3% of gross income.

Franklin rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Franklin median rent
$2,132/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
43.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Franklin's median rent of $2,132 exceeds that threshold by $657/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 75.1 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Franklin, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Thompsons Station, TN
$2,129/mo (43.3% of income)
Brentwood, TN
$2,129/mo (43.3% of income)
La Vergne, TN
$2,127/mo (43.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Franklin

View full rent data for Franklin, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Franklin, TN?

Median rent in Franklin is $2,132 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 43.3% 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 Franklin?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Franklin's current median rent is $2,132/mo, which is $657/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 75.1 hours a month to cover Franklin's median rent of $2,132.

Where is rent cheaper than Franklin for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Thompsons Station ($2,129/mo), Brentwood ($2,129/mo), La Vergne ($2,127/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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