Chef Salary in Worcester, MA — 2026 Guide
Estimated salaries are adjusted for Worcester's cost of living (index: 116). National data from BLS OEWS 2024; city adjustments reflect local market conditions.
Chef Salary in Worcester — Key Numbers
Cost of Living in Worcester
Rent-to-income below 28% is considered affordable; above 35% is cost-burdened. Home price multiple below 3× is affordable; above 5× is expensive by traditional guidelines.
Job Market in Worcester
Worcester has a metro population of 1,000,000, offering a sizeable job market with strong opportunities across key sectors. The 3.6% unemployment rate is below the national average, suggesting a tight labor market favorable to job seekers.
Financial Calculators for Worcester
Other Professions in Worcester
Chef Salary — Other Massachusetts Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Chef make in Worcester, MA?
The estimated median salary for a Chef in Worcester is $68,347 per year (2026). This is derived from the national BLS median of $58,920 adjusted by Worcester's cost of living index (116). The typical salary range runs from $49,706 (25th percentile) to $93,473 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $122,635.
Is Worcester affordable for a Chef?
On a $68,347 annual salary, a Chef in Worcester would spend approximately 29.0% of gross monthly income on median rent ($1,650/month). This is approaching the 30–35% cost-burden threshold; careful budgeting is recommended. The median home price of $380,000 is 5.6× the annual salary.
How does a Chef's salary compare to Worcester's overall income?
Worcester's median household income is $71,400. A Chef earning the city-adjusted median of $68,347 earns 4.3% less than the typical Worcester household income. This may reflect that the profession is entry-level or that Worcester has a particularly high median household income due to high-earning industries.
Explore More Salary Data
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS, 2024 release. City salary estimates adjusted by cost of living index. City data from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024–2025). Last updated: March 2026.