Can A Chef Afford Rent in Thompsons Station, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.4% of gross income.

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

Thompsons Station median rent
$2,281/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
46.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Thompsons Station's median rent of $2,281 exceeds that threshold by $806/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 80.4 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 Thompsons Station, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Arlington, TN
$2,280/mo (46.4% of income)
Arlington, TN
$2,274/mo (46.2% of income)
Germantown, TN
$2,272/mo (46.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Thompsons Station

View full rent data for Thompsons Station, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Thompsons Station, TN?

Median rent in Thompsons Station is $2,281 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 46.4% 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 Thompsons Station?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Thompsons Station's current median rent is $2,281/mo, which is $806/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 80.4 hours a month to cover Thompsons Station's median rent of $2,281.

Where is rent cheaper than Thompsons Station for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Arlington ($2,280/mo), Arlington ($2,274/mo), Germantown ($2,272/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 Thompsons Station, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.