To take home four times the typical rent here, a full-time job needs to pay at least $36.46 an hour before taxes, about $75,841 a year.
Rent is the middle of 132 ZIP-level HUD studio rents in the county. HUD's county-wide figure is $1,233 (Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX HUD Metro FMR Area).
Rents vary within the county. This is what the standard would be at each ZIP code's own studio rent; the county figure above is what the calculator uses.
| ZIP | Place | Studio rent | Pay needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77001 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77002 | Houston | $1,850/mo | $59.21/hr |
| 77003 | Houston | $1,450/mo | $44.99/hr |
| 77004 | Houston | $1,220/mo | $36.82/hr |
| 77005 | Houston | $1,840/mo | $58.85/hr |
| 77006 | Houston | $1,850/mo | $59.21/hr |
| 77007 | Houston | $1,850/mo | $59.21/hr |
| 77008 | Houston | $1,490/mo | $46.41/hr |
| 77009 | Houston | $1,100/mo | $32.81/hr |
| 77010 | Houston | $1,850/mo | $59.21/hr |
| 77011 | Houston | $930/mo | $27.52/hr |
| 77012 | Houston | $840/mo | $24.72/hr |
| 77013 | Houston | $1,010/mo | $30.01/hr |
| 77014 | Houston | $1,090/mo | $32.50/hr |
| 77015 | Houston | $1,100/mo | $32.81/hr |
| 77016 | Houston | $1,050/mo | $31.26/hr |
| 77017 | Houston | $960/mo | $28.46/hr |
| 77018 | Houston | $1,170/mo | $35.05/hr |
| 77019 | Houston | $1,850/mo | $59.21/hr |
| 77020 | Houston | $860/mo | $25.34/hr |
| 77021 | Houston | $1,110/mo | $33.12/hr |
| 77022 | Houston | $970/mo | $28.77/hr |
| 77023 | Houston | $960/mo | $28.46/hr |
| 77024 | Houston | $1,690/mo | $53.52/hr |
| 77025 | Houston | $1,390/mo | $42.86/hr |
| 77026 | Houston | $840/mo | $24.72/hr |
| 77027 | Houston | $1,840/mo | $58.85/hr |
| 77028 | Houston | $1,040/mo | $30.95/hr |
| 77029 | Houston | $1,020/mo | $30.32/hr |
| 77030 | Houston | $1,680/mo | $53.16/hr |
| 77031 | Houston | $960/mo | $28.46/hr |
| 77032 | Houston | $1,090/mo | $32.50/hr |
| 77033 | Houston | $1,140/mo | $34.06/hr |
| 77034 | Houston | $1,060/mo | $31.57/hr |
| 77035 | Houston | $1,000/mo | $29.70/hr |
| 77036 | Houston | $1,080/mo | $32.19/hr |
| 77037 | Houston | $940/mo | $27.83/hr |
| 77038 | Houston | $1,140/mo | $34.06/hr |
| 77039 | Houston | $1,070/mo | $31.88/hr |
| 77040 | Houston | $1,190/mo | $35.75/hr |
| 77041 | Houston | $1,460/mo | $45.35/hr |
| 77042 | Houston | $1,310/mo | $40.02/hr |
| 77043 | Houston | $1,300/mo | $39.66/hr |
| 77044 | Houston | $1,480/mo | $46.06/hr |
| 77045 | Houston | $1,190/mo | $35.75/hr |
| 77046 | Houston | $1,580/mo | $49.61/hr |
| 77047 | Houston | $1,520/mo | $47.48/hr |
| 77048 | Houston | $1,200/mo | $36.11/hr |
| 77049 | Houston | $1,340/mo | $41.08/hr |
| 77050 | Houston | $1,060/mo | $31.57/hr |
| 77051 | Houston | $1,200/mo | $36.11/hr |
| 77052 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77053 | Houston (partly) | $1,400/mo | $43.21/hr |
| 77054 | Houston | $1,460/mo | $45.35/hr |
| 77055 | Houston | $1,120/mo | $33.43/hr |
| 77056 | Houston | $1,820/mo | $58.14/hr |
| 77057 | Houston | $1,410/mo | $43.57/hr |
| 77058 | Houston | $1,270/mo | $38.59/hr |
| 77059 | Houston | $1,640/mo | $51.74/hr |
| 77060 | Houston | $1,050/mo | $31.26/hr |
| 77061 | Houston | $860/mo | $25.34/hr |
| 77062 | Houston | $1,200/mo | $36.11/hr |
| 77063 | Houston | $1,330/mo | $40.73/hr |
| 77064 | Houston | $1,350/mo | $41.44/hr |
| 77065 | Houston | $1,310/mo | $40.02/hr |
| 77066 | Houston | $1,280/mo | $38.95/hr |
| 77067 | Houston | $1,010/mo | $30.01/hr |
| 77068 | Houston | $1,180/mo | $35.40/hr |
| 77069 | Houston | $1,350/mo | $41.44/hr |
| 77070 | Houston | $1,430/mo | $44.28/hr |
| 77071 | Houston | $960/mo | $28.46/hr |
| 77072 | Houston | $1,140/mo | $34.06/hr |
| 77073 | Houston | $1,180/mo | $35.40/hr |
| 77074 | Houston | $1,040/mo | $30.95/hr |
| 77075 | Houston | $1,080/mo | $32.19/hr |
| 77076 | Houston | $1,040/mo | $30.95/hr |
| 77077 | Houston | $1,460/mo | $45.35/hr |
| 77078 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77079 | Houston | $1,530/mo | $47.83/hr |
| 77080 | Houston | $1,140/mo | $34.06/hr |
| 77081 | Houston | $1,040/mo | $30.95/hr |
| 77082 | Houston | $1,290/mo | $39.30/hr |
| 77083 | Houston | $1,260/mo | $38.24/hr |
| 77084 | Houston | $1,400/mo | $43.21/hr |
| 77085 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77086 | Houston | $1,090/mo | $32.50/hr |
| 77087 | Houston | $930/mo | $27.52/hr |
| 77088 | Houston | $1,070/mo | $31.88/hr |
| 77089 | Houston | $1,280/mo | $38.95/hr |
| 77090 | Houston | $1,220/mo | $36.82/hr |
| 77091 | Houston | $980/mo | $29.08/hr |
| 77092 | Houston | $1,090/mo | $32.50/hr |
| 77093 | Houston | $1,000/mo | $29.70/hr |
| 77094 | Houston | $1,490/mo | $46.41/hr |
| 77095 | Houston | $1,430/mo | $44.28/hr |
| 77096 | Houston | $1,180/mo | $35.40/hr |
| 77098 | Houston | $1,850/mo | $59.21/hr |
| 77099 | Houston | $1,170/mo | $35.05/hr |
| 77204 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77205 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77206 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77207 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77208 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77210 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77215 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77217 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77218 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77219 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77220 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77221 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77222 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77223 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77224 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77225 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77226 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77227 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77228 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77230 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77231 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77233 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77234 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77235 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77236 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77237 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77238 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77240 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77241 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77242 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77243 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77244 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77245 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77248 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77249 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77251 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77252 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77253 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77254 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77255 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77256 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77257 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77258 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77259 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77261 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77262 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77263 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77265 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77266 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77267 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77268 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77269 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77270 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77271 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77272 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77273 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77274 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77275 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77277 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77279 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77280 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77282 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77284 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77287 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77288 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77289 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77290 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77291 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77292 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77293 | Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77315 | North Houston | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77325 | Kingwood | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77336 | Huffman | $1,280/mo | $38.95/hr |
| 77338 | Humble | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77339 | Kingwood | $1,420/mo | $43.92/hr |
| 77345 | Kingwood | $1,810/mo | $57.78/hr |
| 77346 | Humble | $1,550/mo | $48.54/hr |
| 77347 | Humble | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77373 | Spring | $1,480/mo | $46.06/hr |
| 77375 | Tomball | $1,390/mo | $42.86/hr |
| 77377 | Tomball | $1,470/mo | $45.70/hr |
| 77379 | Spring | $1,450/mo | $44.99/hr |
| 77383 | Spring | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77388 | Spring | $1,610/mo | $50.68/hr |
| 77389 | Spring | $1,600/mo | $50.32/hr |
| 77391 | Spring | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77396 | Humble | $1,310/mo | $40.02/hr |
| 77401 | Bellaire | $1,850/mo | $59.21/hr |
| 77402 | Bellaire | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77410 | Cypress | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77411 | Alief | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77413 | Barker | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77429 | Cypress | $1,500/mo | $46.77/hr |
| 77433 | Cypress | $1,690/mo | $53.52/hr |
| 77447 | Hockley | $1,420/mo | $43.92/hr |
| 77449 | Katy | $1,580/mo | $49.61/hr |
| 77450 | Katy | $1,520/mo | $47.48/hr |
| 77477 | Stafford (partly) | $1,300/mo | $39.66/hr |
| 77484 | Waller (partly) | $980/mo | $29.08/hr |
| 77491 | Katy | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77492 | Katy | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77493 | Katy | $1,580/mo | $49.61/hr |
| 77494 | Katy (partly) | $1,850/mo | $59.21/hr |
| 77501 | Pasadena | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77502 | Pasadena | $1,070/mo | $31.88/hr |
| 77503 | Pasadena | $1,060/mo | $31.57/hr |
| 77504 | Pasadena | $1,060/mo | $31.57/hr |
| 77505 | Pasadena | $1,360/mo | $41.79/hr |
| 77506 | Pasadena | $950/mo | $28.15/hr |
| 77507 | Pasadena | $1,550/mo | $48.54/hr |
| 77508 | Pasadena | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77520 | Baytown | $1,050/mo | $31.26/hr |
| 77521 | Baytown | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77522 | Baytown | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77523 | Baytown (partly) | $1,340/mo | $41.08/hr |
| 77530 | Channelview | $990/mo | $29.39/hr |
| 77532 | Crosby | $1,110/mo | $33.12/hr |
| 77536 | Deer Park | $1,200/mo | $36.11/hr |
| 77546 | Friendswood (partly) | $1,500/mo | $46.77/hr |
| 77547 | Galena Park | $1,010/mo | $30.01/hr |
| 77562 | Highlands | $1,030/mo | $30.63/hr |
| 77571 | La Porte | $1,220/mo | $36.82/hr |
| 77572 | La Porte | $1,210/mo | $36.46/hr |
| 77581 | Pearland (partly) | $1,160/mo | $34.71/hr |
| 77586 | Seabrook | $1,280/mo | $38.95/hr |
| 77587 | South Houston | $1,060/mo | $31.57/hr |
| 77598 | Webster | $1,330/mo | $40.73/hr |
Under the Four Times Rent standard, a full-time job in Harris County, Texas needs to pay at least $36.46 an hour before taxes, about $75,841 a year. That leaves $4,840 a month after taxes, four times the typical $1,210 rent on a studio apartment.
The minimum wage here is $7.25 an hour (federal minimum wage). The standard is 5.0 times that. A full-time minimum-wage job takes home about $1,161 a month, 24% of the standard.
Take the typical monthly cost of a studio apartment, multiply by four, and divide by 160 hours of work a month. That's the take-home pay needed per hour. The pay before taxes is what it takes to keep that much after federal, state and local income taxes and Social Security and Medicare.
The idea behind the standard is laid out in Chapter 1: The Living Wage Revolution.