To take home four times the typical rent, a full-time job in Washington needs to pay from $21.99 an hour in Ferry County to $72.25 in King County, before taxes. The middle county is Cowlitz County at $31.49.
| County | Pay needed | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County | $26.11/hr | $870/mo |
| Asotin County | $29.27/hr | $970/mo |
| Benton County | $34.86/hr | $1,145/mo |
| Chelan County | $35.93/hr | $1,175/mo |
| Clallam County | $29.91/hr | $990/mo |
| Clark County | $49.88/hr | $1,560/mo |
| Columbia County | $24.81/hr | $829/mo |
| Cowlitz County | $31.49/hr | $1,040/mo |
| Douglas County | $29.27/hr | $970/mo |
| Ferry County | $21.99/hr | $740/mo |
| Franklin County | $31.33/hr | $1,035/mo |
| Garfield County | $23.76/hr | $796/mo |
| Grant County | $29.27/hr | $970/mo |
| Grays Harbor County | $28.32/hr | $940/mo |
| Island County | $40.46/hr | $1,300/mo |
| Jefferson County | $39.37/hr | $1,270/mo |
| King County | $72.25/hr | $2,170/mo |
| Kitsap County | $42.81/hr | $1,365/mo |
| Kittitas County | $35.03/hr | $1,150/mo |
| Klickitat County | $28.64/hr | $950/mo |
| Lewis County | $30.22/hr | $1,000/mo |
| Lincoln County | $26.27/hr | $875/mo |
| Mason County | $35.03/hr | $1,150/mo |
| Okanogan County | $28.32/hr | $940/mo |
| Pacific County | $27.37/hr | $910/mo |
| Pend Oreille County | $28.01/hr | $930/mo |
| Pierce County | $47.35/hr | $1,490/mo |
| San Juan County | $45.17/hr | $1,430/mo |
| Skagit County | $41.18/hr | $1,320/mo |
| Skamania County | $44.81/hr | $1,420/mo |
| Snohomish County | $62.57/hr | $1,910/mo |
| Spokane County | $33.07/hr | $1,090/mo |
| Stevens County | $26.42/hr | $880/mo |
| Thurston County | $48.80/hr | $1,530/mo |
| Wahkiakum County | $31.81/hr | $1,050/mo |
| Walla Walla County | $32.12/hr | $1,060/mo |
| Whatcom County | $45.17/hr | $1,430/mo |
| Whitman County | $28.01/hr | $930/mo |
| Yakima County | $31.17/hr | $1,030/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?