To take home four times the typical rent, a full-time job in Maine needs to pay from $27.35 an hour in Franklin County to $55.23 in Cumberland County, before taxes. The middle county is Waldo County at $35.70.
| County | Pay needed | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin County | $41.25/hr | $1,260/mo |
| Aroostook County | $28.03/hr | $900/mo |
| Cumberland County | $55.23/hr | $1,610/mo |
| Franklin County | $27.35/hr | $880/mo |
| Hancock County | $38.08/hr | $1,180/mo |
| Kennebec County | $34.02/hr | $1,075/mo |
| Knox County | $40.26/hr | $1,235/mo |
| Lincoln County | $37.29/hr | $1,160/mo |
| Oxford County | $28.55/hr | $915/mo |
| Penobscot County | $40.46/hr | $1,240/mo |
| Piscataquis County | $29.06/hr | $930/mo |
| Sagadahoc County | $40.26/hr | $1,235/mo |
| Somerset County | $32.48/hr | $1,030/mo |
| Waldo County | $35.70/hr | $1,120/mo |
| Washington County | $30.94/hr | $985/mo |
| York County | $47.61/hr | $1,420/mo |
The Four Times Rent standard: a month of full-time work (160 hours) should take home at least four times the typical rent on a studio apartment in the county where the work is done. Rents: HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local income taxes plus Social Security and Medicare, for a single filer. Why four times rent?