Where elementary school teachers keep the most after rent
21 large metros ranked by how much of a median elementary school teacher's take-home pay goes to a one-bedroom at HUD Fair Market Rent. BLS occupation code 25-2021; national median $63,970.
Detroit comes out on top. Median pay of $65,210 against a $1,167 one-bedroom leaves $3,381 a month after rent. At the bottom is Miami, where rent takes 52% of take-home pay. The highest-paying metro, Seattle ($102,920), ranks 8 of 21 once rent is counted.
1-bedroom rent as a share of take-home pay
Full table
| # | Metro | Median pay | vs. U.S. | 1BR rent | Hours of work | 1BR share | Left / mo | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $65,210 | +2% | $1,167 | — h | 26% | $3,381 | 18,390 |
| 2 | Riverside–San Bernardino | $98,520 | +54% | $1,705 | — h | 26% | $4,807 | 18,850 |
| 3 | Minneapolis–St. Paul | $79,730 | +25% | $1,427 | — h | 26% | $3,983 | 16,990 |
| 4 | Houston | $64,500 | +1% | $1,261 | — h | 28% | $3,239 | 30,980 |
| 5 | Philadelphia | $78,570 | +23% | $1,558 | — h | 29% | $3,784 | 23,380 |
| 6 | Atlanta | $76,570 | +20% | $1,619 | — h | 31% | $3,606 | 23,370 |
| 7 | Baltimore | $76,400 | +19% | $1,625 | — h | 31% | $3,590 | 13,150 |
| 8 | Seattle | $102,920 | +61% | $2,180 | — h | 32% | $4,590 | 14,560 |
| 9 | Chicago | $78,390 | +23% | $1,780 | — h | 33% | $3,551 | 45,840 |
| 10 | Dallas–Fort Worth | $65,070 | +2% | $1,536 | — h | 34% | $3,003 | 27,350 |
| 11 | San Francisco | $101,860 | +59% | $2,290 | — h | 34% | $4,417 | 17,860 |
| 12 | Denver | $76,910 | +20% | $1,831 | — h | 35% | $3,414 | 12,030 |
| 13 | Los Angeles | $101,860 | +59% | $2,402 | — h | 36% | $4,305 | 44,790 |
| 14 | Phoenix | $59,180 | −7% | $1,493 | — h | 36% | $2,651 | 16,560 |
| 15 | San Diego | $97,000 | +52% | $2,335 | — h | 36% | $4,087 | 11,340 |
| 16 | Boston | $98,060 | +53% | $2,518 | — h | 39% | $3,967 | 20,340 |
| 17 | Tampa | $60,120 | −6% | $1,648 | — h | 39% | $2,559 | 11,000 |
| 18 | Washington, DC | $79,470 | +24% | $2,204 | — h | 41% | $3,191 | 30,940 |
| 19 | Orlando | $60,190 | −6% | $1,726 | — h | 41% | $2,486 | 10,950 |
| 20 | New York | $96,900 | +51% | $2,729 | — h | 43% | $3,688 | 98,900 |
| 21 | Miami | $58,300 | −9% | $2,121 | — h | 52% | $1,964 | 19,910 |
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.