To take home four times the typical rent, a full-time job in Maryland needs to pay from $27.31 an hour in Garrett County to $79.77 in Montgomery County, before taxes. The middle county is Carroll County at $42.72.
| County | Pay needed | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| Allegany County | $27.66/hr | $860/mo |
| Anne Arundel County | $72.22/hr | $1,990/mo |
| Baltimore city | $44.52/hr | $1,310/mo |
| Baltimore County | $51.91/hr | $1,495/mo |
| Calvert County | $50.51/hr | $1,460/mo |
| Caroline County | $35.53/hr | $1,085/mo |
| Carroll County | $42.72/hr | $1,265/mo |
| Cecil County | $41.12/hr | $1,225/mo |
| Charles County | $75.13/hr | $2,060/mo |
| Dorchester County | $29.03/hr | $900/mo |
| Frederick County | $59.83/hr | $1,690/mo |
| Garrett County | $27.31/hr | $850/mo |
| Harford County | $53.81/hr | $1,540/mo |
| Howard County | $69.72/hr | $1,930/mo |
| Kent County | $34.20/hr | $1,050/mo |
| Montgomery County | $79.77/hr | $2,170/mo |
| Prince George's County | $73.88/hr | $2,030/mo |
| Queen Anne's County | $52.11/hr | $1,500/mo |
| Somerset County | $30.58/hr | $945/mo |
| St. Mary's County | $45.12/hr | $1,325/mo |
| Talbot County | $35.73/hr | $1,090/mo |
| Washington County | $29.38/hr | $910/mo |
| Wicomico County | $37.33/hr | $1,130/mo |
| Worcester County | $36.13/hr | $1,100/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?