To take home four times the typical rent, a full-time job in Michigan needs to pay from $21.66 an hour in Gogebic County to $45.98 in Washtenaw County, before taxes. The middle county is Genesee County at $24.94.
| County | Pay needed | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| Alcona County | $23.63/hr | $770/mo |
| Alger County | $24.29/hr | $790/mo |
| Allegan County | $31.68/hr | $1,015/mo |
| Alpena County | $24.12/hr | $785/mo |
| Antrim County | $27.41/hr | $885/mo |
| Arenac County | $24.29/hr | $790/mo |
| Baraga County | $21.99/hr | $720/mo |
| Barry County | $30.86/hr | $990/mo |
| Bay County | $25.27/hr | $820/mo |
| Benzie County | $28.72/hr | $925/mo |
| Berrien County | $24.94/hr | $810/mo |
| Branch County | $28.23/hr | $910/mo |
| Calhoun County | $26.26/hr | $850/mo |
| Cass County | $25.93/hr | $840/mo |
| Charlevoix County | $23.63/hr | $770/mo |
| Cheboygan County | $23.96/hr | $780/mo |
| Chippewa County | $21.99/hr | $720/mo |
| Clare County | $24.29/hr | $790/mo |
| Clinton County | $27.24/hr | $880/mo |
| Crawford County | $23.43/hr | $764/mo |
| Delta County | $24.78/hr | $805/mo |
| Dickinson County | $23.30/hr | $760/mo |
| Eaton County | $30.86/hr | $990/mo |
| Emmet County | $29.22/hr | $940/mo |
| Genesee County | $24.94/hr | $810/mo |
| Gladwin County | $25.27/hr | $820/mo |
| Gogebic County | $21.66/hr | $710/mo |
| Grand Traverse County | $38.04/hr | $1,195/mo |
| Gratiot County | $24.94/hr | $810/mo |
| Hillsdale County | $23.79/hr | $775/mo |
| Houghton County | $24.62/hr | $800/mo |
| Huron County | $22.81/hr | $745/mo |
| Ingham County | $32.50/hr | $1,040/mo |
| Ionia County | $27.24/hr | $880/mo |
| Iosco County | $28.07/hr | $905/mo |
| Iron County | $25.60/hr | $830/mo |
| Isabella County | $27.57/hr | $890/mo |
| Jackson County | $29.22/hr | $940/mo |
| Kalamazoo County | $26.59/hr | $860/mo |
| Kalkaska County | $30.37/hr | $975/mo |
| Kent County | $41.82/hr | $1,295/mo |
| Keweenaw County | $22.09/hr | $723/mo |
| Lake County | $23.30/hr | $760/mo |
| Lapeer County | $24.62/hr | $800/mo |
| Leelanau County | $40.31/hr | $1,255/mo |
| Lenawee County | $25.93/hr | $840/mo |
| Livingston County | $39.55/hr | $1,235/mo |
| Luce County | $22.09/hr | $723/mo |
| Mackinac County | $24.62/hr | $800/mo |
| Macomb County | $32.50/hr | $1,040/mo |
| Manistee County | $24.12/hr | $785/mo |
| Marquette County | $22.97/hr | $750/mo |
| Mason County | $23.79/hr | $775/mo |
| Mecosta County | $23.79/hr | $775/mo |
| Menominee County | $23.30/hr | $760/mo |
| Midland County | $27.24/hr | $880/mo |
| Missaukee County | $22.15/hr | $725/mo |
| Monroe County | $28.23/hr | $910/mo |
| Montcalm County | $26.26/hr | $850/mo |
| Montmorency County | $21.99/hr | $720/mo |
| Muskegon County | $29.54/hr | $950/mo |
| Newaygo County | $23.96/hr | $780/mo |
| Oakland County | $38.80/hr | $1,215/mo |
| Oceana County | $22.32/hr | $730/mo |
| Ogemaw County | $22.64/hr | $740/mo |
| Ontonagon County | $21.99/hr | $720/mo |
| Osceola County | $22.97/hr | $750/mo |
| Oscoda County | $22.15/hr | $725/mo |
| Otsego County | $28.56/hr | $920/mo |
| Ottawa County | $34.85/hr | $1,110/mo |
| Presque Isle County | $22.97/hr | $750/mo |
| Roscommon County | $22.32/hr | $730/mo |
| Saginaw County | $25.11/hr | $815/mo |
| Sanilac County | $23.30/hr | $760/mo |
| Schoolcraft County | $26.26/hr | $850/mo |
| Shiawassee County | $25.93/hr | $840/mo |
| St. Clair County | $26.59/hr | $860/mo |
| St. Joseph County | $23.96/hr | $780/mo |
| Tuscola County | $23.14/hr | $755/mo |
| Van Buren County | $24.45/hr | $795/mo |
| Washtenaw County | $45.98/hr | $1,405/mo |
| Wayne County | $30.86/hr | $990/mo |
| Wexford County | $27.74/hr | $895/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?