To take home four times the typical rent, a full-time job in Massachusetts needs to pay from $41.20 an hour in Hampden County to $96.86 in Suffolk County, before taxes. The middle county is Dukes County at $62.00.
| County | Pay needed | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable County | $66.33/hr | $1,910/mo |
| Berkshire County | $41.58/hr | $1,270/mo |
| Bristol County | $50.83/hr | $1,510/mo |
| Dukes County | $62.00/hr | $1,800/mo |
| Essex County | $75.08/hr | $2,130/mo |
| Franklin County | $43.51/hr | $1,320/mo |
| Hampden County | $41.20/hr | $1,260/mo |
| Hampshire County | $48.13/hr | $1,440/mo |
| Middlesex County | $88.99/hr | $2,480/mo |
| Nantucket County | $89.59/hr | $2,495/mo |
| Norfolk County | $81.83/hr | $2,300/mo |
| Plymouth County | $75.08/hr | $2,130/mo |
| Suffolk County | $96.86/hr | $2,680/mo |
| Worcester County | $51.99/hr | $1,540/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?