Can A Chef Afford Rent in Fort Washington, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.

Fort Washington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Fort Washington median rent
$1,727/mo
Chef salary (Maryland)
$69,282/yr
Rent as % of income
29.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,732/mo in rent. Fort Washington's median rent of $1,727 leaves roughly $5/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 51.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Maryland cities have lower median rent than Fort Washington, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Westminster, MD
$1,726/mo (29.9% of income)
Dundalk, MD
$1,725/mo (29.9% of income)
Dundalk, MD
$1,725/mo (29.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fort Washington

View full rent data for Fort Washington, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Fort Washington, MD?

Median rent in Fort Washington is $1,727 a month. A typical chef in Maryland earns about $69,282 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Fort Washington?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maryland (~$69,282/yr) supports up to $1,732 a month in rent. Fort Washington's current median rent is $1,727/mo, which leaves a $5/mo buffer.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Fort Washington?

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a chef in Maryland works roughly 51.8 hours a month to cover Fort Washington's median rent of $1,727.

Where is rent cheaper than Fort Washington for a chef?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Westminster ($1,726/mo), Dundalk ($1,725/mo), Dundalk ($1,725/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Maryland state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Fort Washington, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.