To take home four times the typical rent, a full-time job in New Jersey needs to pay from $41.32 an hour in Cumberland County to $89.33 in Hudson County, before taxes. The middle county is Passaic County at $59.02.
| County | Pay needed | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic County | $48.99/hr | $1,475/mo |
| Bergen County | $68.01/hr | $1,955/mo |
| Burlington County | $53.12/hr | $1,580/mo |
| Camden County | $44.07/hr | $1,350/mo |
| Cape May County | $58.62/hr | $1,720/mo |
| Cumberland County | $41.32/hr | $1,280/mo |
| Essex County | $63.75/hr | $1,850/mo |
| Gloucester County | $49.97/hr | $1,500/mo |
| Hudson County | $89.33/hr | $2,480/mo |
| Hunterdon County | $61.97/hr | $1,805/mo |
| Mercer County | $55.08/hr | $1,630/mo |
| Middlesex County | $69.84/hr | $2,000/mo |
| Monmouth County | $61.77/hr | $1,800/mo |
| Morris County | $64.96/hr | $1,880/mo |
| Ocean County | $55.87/hr | $1,650/mo |
| Passaic County | $59.02/hr | $1,730/mo |
| Salem County | $41.91/hr | $1,295/mo |
| Somerset County | $76.74/hr | $2,170/mo |
| Sussex County | $52.72/hr | $1,570/mo |
| Union County | $61.97/hr | $1,805/mo |
| Warren County | $63.15/hr | $1,835/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?