Where fast food and counter workers keep the most after rent
20 large metros ranked by how much of a median fast food worker's take-home pay goes to a one-bedroom at HUD Fair Market Rent. BLS occupation code 35-3023; national median $31,200.
Detroit comes out on top. Median pay of $29,590 against a $1,167 one-bedroom leaves $996 a month after rent. At the bottom is New York, where rent takes 107% of take-home pay. The highest-paying metro, San Francisco ($43,870), ranks 10 of 20 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 | $29,590 | −5% | $1,167 | 82.0 h | 54% | $996 | 42,430 |
| 2 | Riverside–San Bernardino | $42,280 | +36% | $1,705 | 83.9 h | 57% | $1,308 | 51,310 |
| 3 | Minneapolis–St. Paul | $33,040 | +6% | $1,427 | 89.8 h | 60% | $967 | 37,920 |
| 4 | Phoenix | $34,540 | +11% | $1,493 | 89.9 h | 60% | $1,001 | 54,900 |
| 5 | Houston | $27,570 | −12% | $1,261 | 95.2 h | 62% | $765 | 105,810 |
| 6 | Philadelphia | $32,220 | +3% | $1,558 | 100.6 h | 67% | $781 | 69,080 |
| 7 | Baltimore | $33,090 | +6% | $1,625 | 102.1 h | 68% | $772 | 21,090 |
| 8 | Denver | $37,070 | +19% | $1,831 | 102.7 h | 69% | $833 | 42,810 |
| 9 | Chicago | $34,630 | +11% | $1,780 | 106.9 h | 71% | $720 | 97,280 |
| 10 | San Francisco | $43,870 | +41% | $2,290 | 108.6 h | 73% | $829 | 49,970 |
| 11 | Dallas–Fort Worth | $28,070 | −10% | $1,536 | 113.8 h | 75% | $524 | 128,380 |
| 12 | Tampa | $29,260 | −6% | $1,648 | 117.1 h | 77% | $493 | 33,910 |
| 13 | San Diego | $42,190 | +35% | $2,335 | 115.1 h | 78% | $672 | 42,550 |
| 14 | Seattle | $39,150 | +25% | $2,180 | 115.8 h | 78% | $623 | 49,190 |
| 15 | Atlanta | $27,780 | −11% | $1,619 | 121.2 h | 79% | $422 | 80,730 |
| 16 | Los Angeles | $42,110 | +35% | $2,402 | 118.7 h | 80% | $599 | 160,270 |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $34,600 | +11% | $2,204 | 132.5 h | 88% | $294 | 60,560 |
| 18 | Boston | $36,290 | +16% | $2,518 | 144.3 h | 96% | $94 | 60,130 |
| 19 | Miami | $29,600 | −5% | $2,121 | 149.1 h | 98% | $43 | 56,900 |
| 20 | New York | $35,420 | +14% | $2,729 | 160.2 h | 107% | -$176 | 166,040 |
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.