Can A Chef Afford Rent in Jackson, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.5% of gross income.

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

Jackson median rent
$1,451/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
29.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Jackson's median rent of $1,451 leaves roughly $24/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 51.1 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 Jackson, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Portland, TN
$1,450/mo (29.5% of income)
Jonesborough, TN
$1,450/mo (29.5% of income)
Jonesborough, TN
$1,445/mo (29.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jackson

View full rent data for Jackson, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Jackson, TN?

Median rent in Jackson is $1,451 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 29.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Jackson?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Jackson's current median rent is $1,451/mo, which leaves a $24/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 51.1 hours a month to cover Jackson's median rent of $1,451.

Where is rent cheaper than Jackson for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Portland ($1,450/mo), Jonesborough ($1,450/mo), Jonesborough ($1,445/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 Jackson, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.