Can A Chef Afford Rent in Olney, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.5% of gross income.

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

Olney median rent
$2,803/mo
Chef salary (Maryland)
$69,282/yr
Rent as % of income
48.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,732/mo in rent. Olney's median rent of $2,803 exceeds that threshold by $1,071/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 84.2 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 Olney, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Derwood, MD
$2,797/mo (48.4% of income)
Derwood, MD
$2,788/mo (48.3% of income)
Chevy Chase, MD
$2,788/mo (48.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Olney

View full rent data for Olney, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Olney, MD?

Median rent in Olney is $2,803 a month. A typical chef in Maryland earns about $69,282 a year, which makes that rent 48.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Olney?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maryland (~$69,282/yr) supports up to $1,732 a month in rent. Olney's current median rent is $2,803/mo, which is $1,071/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a chef in Maryland works roughly 84.2 hours a month to cover Olney's median rent of $2,803.

Where is rent cheaper than Olney for a chef?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Derwood ($2,797/mo), Derwood ($2,788/mo), Chevy Chase ($2,788/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 Olney, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.