Where accountants and auditors keep the most after rent

By Wintacus

20 large metros ranked by how much of a median accountant or auditor's take-home pay goes to a one-bedroom at HUD Fair Market Rent. BLS occupation code 13-2011; national median $83,680.

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates · Rent: HUD FMR FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026)

Detroit comes out on top. Median pay of $80,650 against a $1,167 one-bedroom leaves $4,297 a month after rent. At the bottom is New York, where rent takes 39% of take-home pay. The highest-paying metro, San Francisco ($110,730), ranks 12 of 20 once rent is counted.

1-bedroom rent as a share of take-home pay

Detroit 21%

Houston 22%

Minneapolis–St. Paul 25%

Philadelphia 27%

Phoenix 27%

Dallas–Fort Worth 28%

Denver 28%

Atlanta 28%

Baltimore 28%

Riverside–San Bernardino 30%

Tampa 31%

San Francisco 32%

Chicago 32%

Washington, DC 33%

Seattle 33%

San Diego 37%

Boston 38%

Los Angeles 38%

Miami 39%

New York 39%

≤30% of take-home30–40%>40%30% line

Full table

#	Metro	Median pay	vs. U.S.	1BR rent	Hours of work	1BR share	Left / mo	Employed
1	Detroit	$80,650	−4%	$1,167	30.1 h	21%	$4,297	19,390
2	Houston	$85,090	+2%	$1,261	30.8 h	22%	$4,463	28,400
3	Minneapolis–St. Paul	$86,500	+3%	$1,427	34.3 h	25%	$4,380	21,820
4	Philadelphia	$85,990	+3%	$1,558	37.7 h	27%	$4,219	29,370
5	Phoenix	$80,820	−3%	$1,493	38.4 h	27%	$3,981	21,360
6	Dallas–Fort Worth	$82,620	−1%	$1,536	38.7 h	28%	$4,043	37,450
7	Denver	$100,020	+20%	$1,831	38.1 h	28%	$4,769	22,720
8	Atlanta	$85,820	+3%	$1,619	39.2 h	28%	$4,148	30,150
9	Baltimore	$85,160	+2%	$1,625	39.7 h	28%	$4,103	13,550
10	Riverside–San Bernardino	$83,920	+0%	$1,705	42.3 h	30%	$3,951	9,240
11	Tampa	$78,990	−6%	$1,648	43.4 h	31%	$3,719	14,770
12	San Francisco	$110,730	+32%	$2,290	43.0 h	32%	$4,937	25,170
13	Chicago	$82,360	−2%	$1,780	44.9 h	32%	$3,784	41,360
14	Washington, DC	$102,140	+22%	$2,204	44.9 h	33%	$4,520	41,470
15	Seattle	$99,370	+19%	$2,180	45.6 h	33%	$4,381	22,100
16	San Diego	$96,340	+15%	$2,335	50.4 h	37%	$4,049	13,450
17	Boston	$100,150	+20%	$2,518	52.3 h	38%	$4,089	37,150
18	Los Angeles	$94,360	+13%	$2,402	53.0 h	38%	$3,866	70,640
19	Miami	$80,920	−3%	$2,121	54.5 h	39%	$3,359	30,950
20	New York	$105,650	+26%	$2,729	53.7 h	39%	$4,201	111,930

Sources & method

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — metropolitan areas — vintage: May 2025 estimates. File: oesm25ma.zip, retrieved 2026-10-06.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national — vintage: May 2025 estimates. File: oesm25nat.zip, retrieved 2026-10-06.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD USER), Fair Market Rents, FY2027 — vintage: FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026). File: FY27_FMRs.xlsx, retrieved 2026-10-05.
Internal Revenue Service, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (tax year 2026 brackets, $16,100 standard deduction) and SSA's $184,500 wage base, used for the take-home estimate.

Take-home = annual wage − 2026 federal income tax (single filer, standard deduction) − Social Security and Medicare. State and local income taxes are not deducted. Wages are May 2025 estimates; rents are HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026). Full details on the methodology page. Page data last rebuilt 2026-10-06.