Which jobs keep the most after rent?
Every job-and-metro pair on this site, ranked by the dollars a median earner has left each month after a one-bedroom at HUD Fair Market Rent.
The spread is wide: software developers in San Francisco keep $9,291 a month after rent, while fast food and counter workers in New York keep -$176. In 1 pairs, a median earner's take-home pay doesn't cover the rent at all.
Top 25: most left after rent
| # | Job | Metro | Median pay | Take-home / mo | 1BR rent | Left / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Developer | San Francisco | $186,640 | $11,581 | $2,290 | $9,291 |
| 2 | Registered Nurse | San Francisco | $186,610 | $11,579 | $2,290 | $9,289 |
| 3 | Software Developer | Seattle | $167,280 | $10,467 | $2,180 | $8,287 |
| 4 | Software Developer | San Diego | $163,270 | $10,238 | $2,335 | $7,903 |
| 5 | Software Developer | Boston | $166,090 | $10,399 | $2,518 | $7,881 |
| 6 | Software Developer | New York | $166,830 | $10,441 | $2,729 | $7,712 |
| 7 | Software Developer | Los Angeles | $160,920 | $10,105 | $2,402 | $7,703 |
| 8 | Software Developer | Washington, DC | $154,930 | $9,763 | $2,204 | $7,559 |
| 9 | Software Developer | Baltimore | $138,900 | $8,850 | $1,625 | $7,225 |
| 10 | Software Developer | Detroit | $130,760 | $8,387 | $1,167 | $7,220 |
| 11 | Software Developer | Houston | $129,440 | $8,312 | $1,261 | $7,051 |
| 12 | Software Developer | Dallas–Fort Worth | $133,290 | $8,531 | $1,536 | $6,995 |
| 13 | Software Developer | Minneapolis–St. Paul | $130,920 | $8,396 | $1,427 | $6,969 |
| 14 | Software Developer | Philadelphia | $133,040 | $8,517 | $1,558 | $6,959 |
| 15 | Software Developer | Phoenix | $131,750 | $8,443 | $1,493 | $6,950 |
| 16 | Software Developer | Denver | $137,610 | $8,777 | $1,831 | $6,946 |
| 17 | Software Developer | Atlanta | $132,960 | $8,512 | $1,619 | $6,893 |
| 18 | Registered Nurse | Riverside–San Bernardino | $133,940 | $8,568 | $1,705 | $6,863 |
| 19 | Software Developer | Riverside–San Bernardino | $133,270 | $8,530 | $1,705 | $6,825 |
| 20 | Software Developer | Chicago | $134,380 | $8,593 | $1,780 | $6,813 |
| 21 | Software Developer | Tampa | $130,450 | $8,369 | $1,648 | $6,721 |
| 22 | Software Developer | Orlando | $129,620 | $8,322 | $1,726 | $6,596 |
| 23 | Registered Nurse | San Diego | $139,520 | $8,886 | $2,335 | $6,551 |
| 24 | Software Developer | Miami | $132,650 | $8,494 | $2,121 | $6,373 |
| 25 | Registered Nurse | Los Angeles | $135,560 | $8,660 | $2,402 | $6,258 |
Bottom 25: least left after rent
| # | Job | Metro | Median pay | Take-home / mo | 1BR rent | Left / mo | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 203 | Fast Food Worker | New York | $35,420 | $2,553 | $2,729 | -$176 | 107% |
| 202 | Retail Salesperson | New York | $38,280 | $2,745 | $2,729 | $16 | 99% |
| 201 | Fast Food Worker | Miami | $29,600 | $2,164 | $2,121 | $43 | 98% |
| 200 | Fast Food Worker | Boston | $36,290 | $2,612 | $2,518 | $94 | 96% |
| 199 | Retail Salesperson | Boston | $36,850 | $2,649 | $2,518 | $131 | 95% |
| 198 | Fast Food Worker | Washington, DC | $34,600 | $2,498 | $2,204 | $294 | 88% |
| 197 | Retail Salesperson | Los Angeles | $37,700 | $2,706 | $2,402 | $304 | 89% |
| 196 | Retail Salesperson | Miami | $34,330 | $2,480 | $2,121 | $359 | 86% |
| 195 | Retail Salesperson | San Diego | $37,810 | $2,713 | $2,335 | $378 | 86% |
| 194 | Fast Food Worker | Atlanta | $27,780 | $2,041 | $1,619 | $422 | 79% |
| 193 | Retail Salesperson | Washington, DC | $36,610 | $2,633 | $2,204 | $429 | 84% |
| 192 | Fast Food Worker | Tampa | $29,260 | $2,141 | $1,648 | $493 | 77% |
| 191 | Fast Food Worker | Dallas–Fort Worth | $28,070 | $2,060 | $1,536 | $524 | 75% |
| 190 | Fast Food Worker | Los Angeles | $42,110 | $3,001 | $2,402 | $599 | 80% |
| 189 | Fast Food Worker | Seattle | $39,150 | $2,803 | $2,180 | $623 | 78% |
| 188 | Fast Food Worker | San Diego | $42,190 | $3,007 | $2,335 | $672 | 78% |
| 187 | Medical Assistant | New York | $48,370 | $3,420 | $2,729 | $691 | 80% |
| 186 | Fast Food Worker | Chicago | $34,630 | $2,500 | $1,780 | $720 | 71% |
| 185 | Retail Salesperson | Atlanta | $32,850 | $2,381 | $1,619 | $762 | 68% |
| 184 | Fast Food Worker | Houston | $27,570 | $2,026 | $1,261 | $765 | 62% |
| 183 | Fast Food Worker | Baltimore | $33,090 | $2,397 | $1,625 | $772 | 68% |
| 182 | Fast Food Worker | Philadelphia | $32,220 | $2,339 | $1,558 | $781 | 67% |
| 181 | Retail Salesperson | Tampa | $33,790 | $2,444 | $1,648 | $796 | 67% |
| 180 | Retail Salesperson | Chicago | $35,820 | $2,580 | $1,780 | $800 | 69% |
| 179 | Retail Salesperson | Seattle | $42,080 | $2,999 | $2,180 | $819 | 73% |
Best metro for each job
| Job | Best metro | Left / mo | Toughest metro | Left / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | San Francisco | $9,289 | Orlando | $3,908 |
| Elementary School Teacher | Riverside–San Bernardino | $4,807 | Miami | $1,964 |
| Software Developer | San Francisco | $9,291 | Miami | $6,373 |
| Electrician | Chicago | $4,956 | Miami | $1,986 |
| Retail Salesperson | Detroit | $1,367 | New York | $16 |
| Accountant or Auditor | San Francisco | $4,937 | Miami | $3,359 |
| Police Officer | San Francisco | $6,167 | Atlanta | $2,641 |
| Truck Driver | Minneapolis–St. Paul | $3,053 | Miami | $1,514 |
| Medical Assistant | Minneapolis–St. Paul | $2,275 | New York | $691 |
| Fast Food Worker | Riverside–San Bernardino | $1,308 | New York | -$176 |
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. 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.