Can A Chef Afford Rent in Springfield, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.1% of gross income.

Springfield rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Springfield median rent
$1,630/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
33.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Springfield's median rent of $1,630 exceeds that threshold by $155/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 57.4 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 Springfield, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Ashland City, TN
$1,629/mo (33.1% of income)
Gallatin, TN
$1,627/mo (33.1% of income)
Lebanon, TN
$1,625/mo (33% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Springfield

View full rent data for Springfield, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Springfield, TN?

Median rent in Springfield is $1,630 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 33.1% 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 Springfield?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Springfield's current median rent is $1,630/mo, which is $155/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 57.4 hours a month to cover Springfield's median rent of $1,630.

Where is rent cheaper than Springfield for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Ashland City ($1,629/mo), Gallatin ($1,627/mo), Lebanon ($1,625/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 Springfield, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.