To take home four times the typical rent, a full-time job in Oregon needs to pay from $22.63 an hour in Malheur County to $57.00 in Wasco County, before taxes. The middle county is Sherman County at $33.75.
| County | Pay needed | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| Baker County | $22.98/hr | $720/mo |
| Benton County | $47.12/hr | $1,365/mo |
| Clackamas County | $54.74/hr | $1,545/mo |
| Clatsop County | $34.45/hr | $1,050/mo |
| Columbia County | $49.38/hr | $1,420/mo |
| Coos County | $28.71/hr | $885/mo |
| Crook County | $31.66/hr | $970/mo |
| Curry County | $29.23/hr | $900/mo |
| Deschutes County | $45.89/hr | $1,335/mo |
| Douglas County | $26.10/hr | $810/mo |
| Gilliam County | $22.94/hr | $719/mo |
| Grant County | $24.37/hr | $760/mo |
| Harney County | $22.98/hr | $720/mo |
| Hood River County | $47.74/hr | $1,380/mo |
| Jackson County | $33.75/hr | $1,030/mo |
| Jefferson County | $38.79/hr | $1,160/mo |
| Josephine County | $31.14/hr | $955/mo |
| Klamath County | $25.41/hr | $790/mo |
| Lake County | $23.67/hr | $740/mo |
| Lane County | $38.79/hr | $1,160/mo |
| Lincoln County | $37.00/hr | $1,115/mo |
| Linn County | $40.78/hr | $1,210/mo |
| Malheur County | $22.63/hr | $710/mo |
| Marion County | $48.97/hr | $1,410/mo |
| Morrow County | $24.37/hr | $760/mo |
| Multnomah County | $52.30/hr | $1,490/mo |
| Polk County | $45.28/hr | $1,320/mo |
| Sherman County | $33.75/hr | $1,030/mo |
| Tillamook County | $34.09/hr | $1,040/mo |
| Umatilla County | $26.10/hr | $810/mo |
| Union County | $25.76/hr | $800/mo |
| Wallowa County | $27.49/hr | $850/mo |
| Wasco County | $57.00/hr | $1,600/mo |
| Washington County | $54.94/hr | $1,550/mo |
| Wheeler County | $22.98/hr | $720/mo |
| Yamhill County | $49.38/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?