Where retail salespersons keep the most after rent
20 large metros ranked by how much of a median retail salesperson's take-home pay goes to a one-bedroom at HUD Fair Market Rent. BLS occupation code 41-2031; national median $35,410.
Detroit comes out on top. Median pay of $35,130 against a $1,167 one-bedroom leaves $1,367 a month after rent. At the bottom is New York, where rent takes 99% of take-home pay. The highest-paying metro, San Francisco ($43,850), ranks 14 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 | $35,130 | −1% | $1,167 | 69.1 h | 46% | $1,367 | 48,610 |
| 2 | Minneapolis–St. Paul | $36,670 | +4% | $1,427 | 80.9 h | 54% | $1,210 | 51,180 |
| 3 | Houston | $31,340 | −11% | $1,261 | 83.7 h | 55% | $1,019 | 78,960 |
| 4 | Phoenix | $35,960 | +2% | $1,493 | 86.4 h | 58% | $1,096 | 69,060 |
| 5 | Philadelphia | $34,810 | −2% | $1,558 | 93.1 h | 62% | $954 | 63,990 |
| 6 | Dallas–Fort Worth | $33,400 | −6% | $1,536 | 95.6 h | 64% | $882 | 100,340 |
| 7 | Riverside–San Bernardino | $36,720 | +4% | $1,705 | 96.5 h | 65% | $935 | 41,270 |
| 8 | Baltimore | $34,800 | −2% | $1,625 | 97.1 h | 65% | $887 | 39,920 |
| 9 | Denver | $38,470 | +9% | $1,831 | 99.0 h | 66% | $927 | 40,340 |
| 10 | Tampa | $33,790 | −5% | $1,648 | 101.4 h | 67% | $796 | 45,130 |
| 11 | Atlanta | $32,850 | −7% | $1,619 | 102.5 h | 68% | $762 | 84,970 |
| 12 | Chicago | $35,820 | +1% | $1,780 | 103.4 h | 69% | $800 | 96,950 |
| 13 | Seattle | $42,080 | +19% | $2,180 | 107.8 h | 73% | $819 | 46,620 |
| 14 | San Francisco | $43,850 | +24% | $2,290 | 108.6 h | 73% | $828 | 39,460 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $36,610 | +3% | $2,204 | 125.2 h | 84% | $429 | 66,920 |
| 16 | Miami | $34,330 | −3% | $2,121 | 128.5 h | 86% | $359 | 91,370 |
| 17 | San Diego | $37,810 | +7% | $2,335 | 128.4 h | 86% | $378 | 34,390 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | $37,700 | +6% | $2,402 | 132.5 h | 89% | $304 | 130,650 |
| 19 | Boston | $36,850 | +4% | $2,518 | 142.1 h | 95% | $131 | 64,150 |
| 20 | New York | $38,280 | +8% | $2,729 | 148.3 h | 99% | $16 | 202,080 |
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.